Beyond Rome
Beyond Rome is a podcast that seeks to reconnect Catholics with their Hebraic and Christian roots in the Near East. Hosted by Simone Rizkallah, she and her guests explore a variety of topics related to religion and culture in the West and why the Near East matters for a healthy Church and world. Beyond Rome looks beyond the West to understand what makes the Catholic Church truly universal.
Episodes
48 episodes
Closing Remarks of Catholics & Jews Standing Shoulder to Shoulder Seminar
Simone Rizkallah delivers the closing remarks of the Catholics & Jews Standing Shoulder to Shoulder Seminar.Hosted by the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism in collaboration with Benedictine College, the Shoulder to Shoulder...
Panel on Gen Z Religious Revival, Hebrew Catholics, & Future Jewish-Catholic Relations
Moderator Peter Wolfgang, President of Family Institute of Connecticut Action, speaks with three young Jewish Catholic panelists about their personal experiences and their thoughts on current cultural and societal difficulties.Panelists...
Reclaiming Christ the King's Jewish Roots with Joe Heschmeyer
Joe Heschmeyer delivered the keynote address at the Shoulder to Shoulder Conference on reclaiming Christ the King's Jewish roots in Rosh Hashanah. Hosted by the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism in collaboration with Bene...
A Crash Course on Judaism for Catholics with Lawrence Feingold
Experience a rich and thoughtful introduction to Judaism through a Catholic lens in this lecture presented by Dr. Lawrence Feingold at the April 22, 2026 Shoulder to Shoulder Conference.In “A Crash Course on Judaism for Catholics,” Dr. ...
Pope Benedict, the Jews, and the Mystery of Israel with Matthew Ramage
Explore the enduring mystery of Israel and its significance within Catholic theology in this lecture presented by Dr. Matthew Ramage at the April 22, 2026 Shoulder to Shoulder Conference.In “Pope Benedict, the Jews, and the Mystery of I...
Opening Remarks of Catholics & Jews Standing Shoulder to Shoulder Seminar
Benedictine College and the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism hosted a one-day conference marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Church’s landmark declaration on the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish ...
42. Bonus Episode | Why Antisemitism is Moral Pornography by Mary Eberstadt
As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing conversations from our conference, Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60.My Brot...
41. Bonus Episode | We Are Spiritual Semites: The Witness of Cardinal John O’Connor with Sister Maris Stella
As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing conversations from our conference, Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60.A biogr...
40. Bonus Episode | Why Should I Care About Jewish-Catholic Relations?
As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing conversations from our conference, Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60.For man...
39. Bonus Episode | The Gifts and the Calling Are Irrevocable: Toward a Catholic Zionism with Dr. Gavin D’Costa
As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing conversations from our conference, Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60.This presentation ...
38. Bonus Episode | The Transmission of Anti-Semitism in Immigrant Communities with Luma Simms
As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing conversations from our conference, Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60.This talk from Lum...
37. Bonus Episode | Nostra Aetate at 60 — and Beyond with George Weigel
As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing the opening keynote address from our conference, Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60.Give...
36. Holy Land, Political Territory, or Theological Promise?
In this episode, host Simone Rizkallah speaks with Father Thomas Joseph White, O.P., Rector of the Angelicum and contributor to the new book Catholic‑Jewish Engagements on Israel: Holy Land, Political Territory, or Theological Promise?...
35. A Hidden Legacy: Cardinal O’Connor, the Sisters of Life, and Jewish-Catholic Friendship
In this episode, I sit down with Sr. Maris Stella of the Sisters of Life to discuss the remarkable life and witness of Cardinal John O’Connor — a champion of life, a bridge-builder with the Jewish people, and a spiritual father who left ...
34. Why Israel Matters
In this episode, Simone Rizkallah sits down with Dr. Gerry McDermott to discuss his influential book Israel Matters: Why Christians Must Think Differently about the People and the Land. Together, they explore:Why many Christians misunde...
33. Minimalist Catholic Zionism
Simone interviews Dr. Gavin D’Costa about his groundbreaking work in Jewish-Catholic dialogue and the emerging idea of minimalist Catholic Zionism — a theological approach that affirms God’s enduring covenant with the Jewish people whi...
32. From Leftist to Catholic: Fighting for the Family
Welcome to Season 2! This week Simone Rizkallah is joined by Peter Wolfgang, an orthodox Catholic from a Jewish family. They discuss the religious and political landscape of the Church, the world, and the Near East—what to be aware of and what ...
31. Canada's Antisemitism Crisis
This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Fr. Deacon Andrew Bennett, founder of the Canadian Christian Declaration on Antisemitism, for a timely and urgent conversation about the growing crisis of antisemitism in Canada. Drawi...
30. Pentecost & the Power of Truth
This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Dominican priest and theologian Fr. James Brent, O.P., for a powerful conversation about Pentecost and the transformative power of truth in the Christian life. Drawing from Scripture, ...
29. Eastern Catholicism's Best-Kept Secret
This week, James O’Reilly is joined by Fr. Chris to explore the life and legacy of St. Ephrem of Syria—the only Syriac Christian recognized as a Doctor of the Church. A prolific hymnographer, theologian, and poet, St. Ephrem’s writings continue...
28. Too Jewish for Catholics, Too Catholic for Jews
This week James O’Reilly is joined by David Moss, president of the Association of Hebrew Catholics (AHC), to discuss how Hebrew Catholics live and express their faith within the universal Church. The conversation also addresses the special chal...
27. Armenia: Can She Be Saved?
This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Matias Perttula and Dan Harre of Save Armenia to discuss the recent and ongoing events in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, as well as the hi...
26. Bonus Episode | A Blessing to One Another: John Paul II and the Jewish People
As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing the closing keynote address from Catholics and Antisemitism—Facing the Past, Shaping the Future, ou...