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On April 8th, 2026, the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life welcomed Paul Elie to deliver the 7th Annual Wolfe Lecture on Religion and American Politics. Paul Elie is a senior fellow at Georgetown University鈥檚 Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. His lecture, entitled 鈥淭o the Margins: Francis, Leo, and the Crypto-Religious 1980s,鈥� discussed the content of his most recent book, The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s.聽

Elie began his lecture by discussing the process of writing The Last Supper, and specifically, why he selected the topic. He noted that while facing a creative impasse, he reflected on Pope Francis鈥� call for Catholics to go to the margins of society. This inspired him to take seriously people perceived as existing on the 鈥渕argins鈥� of U.S. society to better understand religious life in the period he wished to cover: the tumultuous 1980s. He examined the 鈥渃rypto-religious鈥� work of artists, poets, and musicians that challenged institutionalized faith. This involved analyzing religious imagery used by figures like Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, and Leonard Cohen. Their works often responded to the ongoing cultural war in the United States in the 1980s. During this time, John Paul II appointed conservative bishops who sought to implement orthodox policies, the sexual abuse crisis began to emerge, and issues such as abortion and IVF began to be debated. Elie notes that artists like Martin Scorsese and Sinead O鈥機onnor sought to engage these controversial areas that church leaders typically avoided.聽

Elie then discussed how this distinct era shaped Pope Leo, who was born in 1955. While the United States faced an ongoing cultural war, Robert Prevost (who would become Pope Leo) opted to serve as a missionary in Peru, during which time he encountered what Elie referred to as 鈥渁ctual war.鈥� Elie highlighted the ways in which Prevost鈥檚 experience in Peru has shaped his leadership during the current global conflicts. Rather than taking an ambiguous position, Pope Leo has spoken with directness and simplicity to world leaders about the need for peace. Elie argued that this is a direct result of his missionary experience, allowing him to express the need for peace rather than being bogged down by polarized rhetoric.聽

Ultimately, Elie highlighted that we are currently in a postsecular age where religion is simultaneously declining and surging. In response, Elie suggests that people look to the 鈥渕argins鈥� to find authentic religious expression. The 鈥渃rypto- religious鈥� artists of the 1980s opened up this new space, using religious motifs to counter conventional beliefs. Understanding these peripheral figures can help us better understand the 1980s, the generation that shaped many adult Catholics today.

After Elie鈥檚 comments, Kim Garcia of Boston College鈥檚 English Department offered a thoughtful response and moderated a lively Q&A. When elaborating on his inspiration for the book, Elie highlighted that we are currently in a postsecular age where religion is simultaneously declining and surging. In light of this, Elie suggests that people look to the 鈥渕argins鈥� to find authentic religious expression. The 鈥渃rypto-religious鈥� artists of the 1980s opened up this new space, using religious motifs to counter conventional beliefs. Understanding these peripheral figures can help us better understand the 1980s, the generation that shaped many adult Catholics today. Overall, Paul Elie offered a thoughtful examination of the 1980s by examining artists on the 鈥渕argins鈥� of religious belief, providing context for both Pope Leo and many of the adult Catholics who form the Church today.