Praxis Circle Contributor George Weigel is a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, New York Times bestselling author, and world-leading Catholic theologian. Praxis Circle interviewed Mr. Weigel because he is among the most influential spokespersons for Christian orthodoxy and Western freedom in the world. His knowledge of and personal experience with the history, doctrines, and authorities of the Catholic Church, the world’s largest religion, are perhaps without parallel. He has much wisdom to offer concerning Christian worldview and the challenges it faces today.
Originally from Maryland, Mr. Weigel received a B.A. from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore and an M.A. from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto. From 1986 to 1989, Mr. Weigel served as the founding president of the James Madison Foundation. He then served as the president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center from 1989 to 1996. He now serves as a Distinguished Senior Fellow and holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies at EPPC.
Mr. Weigel is perhaps best known for his personal friendship with Pope John Paul II and his authorship of the Pope’s two critically acclaimed biographies: the New York Times bestseller, Witness to Hope (1999), and its sequel, The End and the Beginning (2010). He is the author of over 30 more books that have been translated into various languages, and his essays, op-ed columns, and reviews appear regularly in major opinion journals and newspapers across the United States. His syndicated weekly column, “The Catholic Difference,” appears in over 85 newspapers and magazines across multiple countries. He is also Senior Vatican Analyst to NBC News and provided coverage during the funerals for Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Mr. Weigel has received nineteen honorary doctorates and has been awarded the Papal Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Poland’s Gloria Artis Gold Medal, and Lithuania’s Diplomacy Star. As a leading authority on the Catholic Church and its relations around the globe, his voice is continually welcomed on issues of theology, ecumenicalism, foreign and domestic policy, and more.
Mr. Weigel lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife. Together, they have three children.
