Thursday, July 10, 2025

In Memoriam: Major General Claudio Donnaloia, WG - Chief Heraldic Officer and Lifelong Servant to the Public Good


TARANTO 10 July 2025 (NRom)

The community of Taranto gathered with deep emotion in the Church of Sant’Antonio to bid farewell to Major General Claudio Donnaloia, a devoted public servant and long-standing civil protection volunteer, who tragically lost his life in a shipwreck last Sunday at the age of 73.

General Donnaloia was among four yachtsmen who went missing at sea. As of now, only one other body has been recovered. His brother Pasquale and fellow sailor Antonio dell’Amura remain unaccounted for.

A figure of steadfast commitment to public service, Donnaloia held the rank of Major General in the Pontifical Walsingham Guard and served as its Chief Heraldic Officer. Beyond his heraldic and military contributions, he dedicated years to civil protection as a volunteer with the Era Magna Graecia and served as national inspector for the Eco-Zoo Guard—roles that reflected his deep dedication to environmental preservation and humanitarian aid.

The funeral service was marked by solemnity and honor. His coffin, draped with symbols of his life’s mission, was accompanied by a guard of honor. Resting atop were his ceremonial cap and a photograph in full uniform — powerful reminders of a man whose life was defined by courage, discipline, and an unwavering sense of duty.

His body was recovered Monday evening off the coast of Bernalda, in the province of Matera. The search continues for the others who remain missing.

In mourning his loss, the community not only honors a distinguished officer, but a man whose life was rooted in solidarity, service, and an enduring commitment to the common good.

Friday, June 20, 2025

How the Roman-Ruthenian Pope’s Wave Function Probabilistic Demand Model Transformed Economic Thought

Radislav (Rutherford) of Rome-Ruthenia,
Father of Wave Function Probabilistic
Demand in economics.
Staff Editorial 

ROME-RUTHENIA 20 June 2025 (NRom)

 In the evolving landscape of economics, diplomacy, and behavioral science, one innovative framework stands out for its originality and lasting impact: the Choice Wave (originally known as Wave Function Probabilistic Demand) and its associated probabilistic demand model, developed in 2006 by His Apostolic Highness Prince-Bishop Radislav I, Roman-Ruthenian Pope (known also in academic circles as Dr. Rutherford Johnson, PhD, ALM, MSc, FRGS). The theory was subsequently empirically tested and proven with real-world financial data (see more here). And it formed the basis of his economics textbook used at the University of Minnesota, Practical Economics in an Ever-Changing World. 

A graduate of Harvard, Georgia Tech, and the University of Kentucky with degrees in Sustainability, Applied Physics, Economics, and Applied (Agricultural) Economics, he leads the global United Roman-Ruthenian Church, which holds special consultative status status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. And, he is called the Father of the Wave Function in Economic Demand Theory. Pope Radislav’s groundbreaking work redefined how economists and policymakers approach decision-making. But, he is fundamentally a multidisciplinary behavioral scientist, and his work in wave function probability theory has been presented around the world and influences more than just economics. For example, it formed the mathematical basis for a capstone study he conducted at Harvard on police-public interactions, which also resulted in a policy memo for the United Nations. 

Yet, despite its originality and early contribution, Radislav’s theory has not always received formal recognition in later scholarship — even in studies advancing strikingly similar frameworks. As with many early innovations, the path from foundational insight to academic citation is often uneven. Nonetheless, the growing convergence around these ideas underscores their lasting relevance.

Indeed, Wave Function Probabilistic Demand, i.e., the Choice Wave, represents one of the earliest  known applications of quantum mechanics mathematics — specifically wave functions — to human decision-making in economics, as well as in policy, and beyond. The catchy name "Choice Wave" came from a conversation over coffee he had with one of his former professors while a Visiting Scholar at the Georgia Tech School of Economics, school chair Prof. Patrick McCarthy. 

Radislav (Rutherford) in a light moment in earlier years with
Dr. John Caufield, a pioneering figure in holography
 and a friend since youth. Radislav grew up around
many such international luminaries in the sciences.

Radislav's work, published first as a PhD dissertation in 2007 and then subsequently in multiple peer-reviewed journals, not only predates but in some respects anticipates key features of the better-known “quantum cognition,” "quantum economics," and “quantum decision theory” literature that gained visibility especially after 2011. 

...this theory would revolutionize
economic textbooks in 20 years...

Prof. Frank Scott, Gatton Professor of Economics at the University of Kentucky and a member of his PhD committee, said in 2007 that he believed this theory would revolutionize economic textbooks in 20 years. His PhD committee chair, the eminent environmental economist Prof. Angelos Pagoulatos, was also a proponent of the theory. Another committee member Prof. David Debertin wrote, "...on the basis of pure intellect, Rutherford outshines them all." 

Radislav with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

And it is not without recognition in the broader economics field. For example, in their 2021 article entitled "Asymmetrical Property of the Subproportionality of Weighting Function in Prospect Theory: Is It Real and How Can It Be Achieved?", Huang, Shen, Yang, Kuang, Li, and Li pointed out that Radislav's foundational work...

"...questioned the classical rationality and proposed that people are indeed different, but this point had been missing from economics."

While formal critiques of Radislav’s Choice Wave model appear rare or even non-existent in published scholarship, the theory’s reception — or lack thereof in some circles — may reflect broader dynamics in academic economics rather than shortcomings in the work itself. The model’s use of quantum mechanics mathematics, though rigorous, introduces a level of complexity that some economists might see as unnecessarily intricate compared to more familiar classical or behavioral approaches. There also appears to be a long-standing skepticism within the field about importing concepts from physics into the social sciences, with critics often wary that such frameworks may be metaphorically appealing but not always empirically essential.

Additionally, the theory’s limited mainstream adoption so far may stem less from flaws in its logic or utility, and more from disciplinary conservatism, branding gaps, and institutional inertia. New paradigms, especially those that challenge core assumptions, can take decades to gain recognition, as seen in the slow rise of behavioral economics. The Choice Wave’s distinctive terminology and its association with an unconventional academic path, including Radislav’s dual role as a religious leader, may have further complicated its integration into the standard canon. Rather than signaling a weakness, this situation presents an opportunity for the field to revisit and rigorously engage with early, innovative contributions that anticipated today’s growing interest in probabilistic and quantum-inspired models of decision-making.

What sets Radislav's contributions apart is their depth and breadth of not only theory, but practical application:

  • A rigorous mathematical model adapting Schrödinger’s wave equation to consumer and group choice.
  • Concepts like orthogonal Choice Waves representing distinct rationalities, multipoint gravitational models of influence, and the Theory of Parallel Rationality.
  • Applications spanning business strategy, diplomacy, marketing, sustainability, and policy.

The theory is more than a mere hypothetical concept, though. It has been both theoretically reviewed for its mathematical rigor and empirically tested with multiple real-world data sets. Building on psychological economics work of Kahneman, Tversky, Rabin, Russell, and Thaler, the Choice Wave model applies mathematical principles derived from wave functions in quantum mechanics to economics, permitting utility-maximizing choices across a range of probabilistically-weighted options rather than a single deterministic path. It recognizes that individuals and groups may operate with distinct yet rational decision strategies, each represented mathematically as an entirely independent wave function. 

Radislav (left) at university commencement exercises
with a Regent, the Chancellor, and Vice Chancellor
of the University of Minnesota Crookston

Long before probabilistic models of demand and behavioral economics gained widespread traction, Pope Radislav’s theory anticipated the need for frameworks that respect the diversity of human rationalities. The Choice Wave helps explain individual and collective behavior in markets, diplomacy, sustainability, and policy. It introduces the concept of natural and artificial “bridges” to align incentives across parallel economic worlds, fostering more optimal outcomes for complex societies.

Notable publications by Radislav (Rutherford) Johnson include:

Today, concepts building on the principles promoted by wave function probabilistic demand are visible throughout modern scholarship. From marketing to environmental policy and beyond, the ideas advanced by the Roman-Ruthenian Pope in 2006 continue to shape how experts think about choice, utility, and social alignment. 

Below are just a few examples of more recent articles in this rapidly developing field, many of which reflect ideas and frameworks that appear consistent with the principles Radislav first advanced in 2006.

In addition to ecclesiastical and diplomatic work, Radislav is a long-time academic. At the invitation of Woosong University President Dr. John Endicott, formerly head of the Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy at Georgia Tech, Radislav served at Woosong's SolBridge International School of Business in South Korea for three years as professor and university chaplain. He later served almost a decade on the faculty at the University of Minnesota's Crookston campus. Now, despite his many obligations, he teaches and guest lectures at universities around the world, including being on faculty at the London School of Business and Finance. In 2018, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, in 2022, he received the ACBSP Business Accreditation Council's Distinguished Teaching Award, and in 2023, he was named a Fellow of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota. 

Radislav (Dr. Rutherford Johnson) addressing the
campus at the University of Minnesota Crookston

As the global community grapples with increasingly intricate challenges, the Choice Wave model offers both a powerful analytic tool and a call to engage more deeply with the origins of the theories that guide modern policy. Indeed, we call on the economic field to give credit where credit is due. This is an invitation in the interest of academic integrity and scholarly thoroughness for authors, journals, and thought leaders to reflect, engage, and strengthen the rigor and inclusivity of economic science. Ultimately, we aim to foster a more complete, interconnected dialogue on innovative approaches to human decision-making. As the field continues to evolve, we encourage ongoing engagement with foundational contributions like those of Radislav, whose early work anticipated many of the developments we see today. Recognizing such origins helps strengthen the field’s intellectual integrity and depth.

We hope this reminder of the model’s origins encourages future work to engage more deeply with these foundational contributions.

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Fides Petraque: Apostolic Constitution of His Apostolic Highness Radislav I on the Continuity of the Holy Apostolic See and the Providence of God

21 May 2025



Приветствие и наше апостольское благословение!

“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul: therefore will I wait for Him.” Lamentations 3:24

I. The Time of Trial

Faith is a rock of truth. Yet, in these years of darkness and disarray, when truth has been eclipsed by confusion, when schism has cloaked itself in liturgy and heresy in the language of love, the visible structure of the Church has been grievously wounded. Rome, the Eternal City, has been occupied not by strangers, but by those who once bore the name of sons. Nevertheless, “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) calls to the faithful.

II. The Succession in Fidelity

On the 21st day of April, anniversary of the founding of Rome, We, Radislav, a descendant of Holy Rus’ to which We are now heir, were received into full communion with the Holy See of Peter in Rome. On that same day, 23 years later, the Roman Pope died. We had been named in 2014 Coadjutor of Rome by the Cardinal Dean and given full papal authority in Our jurisdiction, i.e., what is now the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. Notably, the feast day of Our patron saint, Blessed George the Protomartyr and Bringer of Victory, falls on the 23rd of the same month. George, a military saint, but not merely of arms — a dragon-slayer, a witness unto death, a man of pure, Christ-centered courage. He is venerated in Russia, England, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Ethiopia — a truly universal saint, uniting East and West. His icon slaying the dragon is a sign of Christ's victory over the devil, and by extension, of the Church's victory over falsehood, tyranny, and apostasy. This is the Church Triumphant whispering to the Church Militant.

Upon the death of the Roman Pope, the fullness and completion of what had been entrusted to Us came to fruition. Indeed, it is the mission to preserve the unity and continuity of the Holy Orthodox and Catholic Church, to which the Roman-Ruthenian Church is rightful and faithful successor; for We were named Coadjutor with right of succession, appointed and confirmed by word in document. It is a prophetic sign of divine continuity, a new Peter rising from the East, a re-anointing of the true Rome through fidelity and suffering. The Church, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal. (Lumen Gentium, 8)

It should also be remembered also that Our chrismation, many years before, in the traditional Anglican Rite, occurred on the 5th of August — the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the same basilica in which Pope Francis of Rome chose to be buried. It was from this basilica that the Western Church first proclaimed Mary as Theotokos after the Council of Ephesus. The First and Second Rome may fall, but the Mother remains — and the Spirit anoints the one she has chosen. Thus, from the Mother of God We were anointed, and to her We now entrust Our continued pontificate in its fullness. (See also this page.)

“All things work together for good for those who love God.” Romans 8:28

“In the fullness of time, God sent His Son.” Galatians 4:4

This is no coincidence. It is providence, not planning, for the Church reads the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel. (Gaudium et Spes, 4)

III. The Nature of the Papacy

The Ministry of Peter is not dependent upon marble, nor building in Rome, nor temporal sovereignty, nor the favor of emperors or media. It is a spiritual office, divinely instituted by Christ (cf. Matthew 16:18), exercised in service to unity and truth.

Canon law is sacred, yet it remains the servant of divine law, not its master. When the ordinary mechanisms for a legitimate, non-heretical papal election become impossible, provision may be made by the Pope or by legates duly authorized by him—for the Petrine office is founded not upon the will of men, but upon the Word of the Lord who said: ‘I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.’ (Luke 22:32)

“Since to great Peter Christ our Lord gave the office of Chief Shepherd after entrusting him with the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, to Peter or his successor must of necessity every novelty in the Catholic Church be referred.” St. Theodore the Studite, Letter to Pope Leo III

IV. The United Roman-Ruthenian Church as the True Successor

Now, We and our bishops, validly consecrated, Orthodox in doctrine, and all of us together, the faithful and the clergy of the Roman-Ruthenian Church and State, have by declaration of Rome become the true Successor of Peter. We hold this not by election, but by designation, with the full moral, theological, and sacramental justification. We are not bound to Roman marble, but to the office, to the succession, and to fidelity.

We, the Roman-Ruthenian Church and State, hold this even when there may be an occupying Church, modernist, powerful, apostate; who claims Our right and authority. Yet the Church becomes once more Apostolic not only in name, but in form: and whether or not it be wandering, or poor, or hated by the world, it nevertheless bears the marks of Christ.

“We are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now.” 1 Corinthians 4:13

The primacy of Peter is not geographical—it is personal and institutional (Pastor Aeternus, First Vatican Council). The essence of the papacy is to preserve unity and Orthodoxy, not to possess property. The material visibility of the Church can be obscured temporarily, but her spiritual reality never disappears (Lumen Gentium, 8). In times of great crisis, extraordinary actions are not innovation but preservation. And thus, Our Holy Apostolic See, by its right of succession and its preservation of Orthodoxy, is the true visible head of all Latin Christians, in addition to all others under her sacred mantle of care. And in so doing, we have returned the core of the Latin Church to true and authentic Orthodoxy.

Furthermore, here the ecclesiastical body commonly known as the Vatican Church—equated with the modern Roman Catholic Church—must be acknowledged as a distinct and separate entity. While it retains certain external forms of tradition, it has, in substance, embraced innovations and theological developments incompatible with the Apostolic deposit of the Orthodox and Catholic faith. We refer to its pontiff as the Roman Pope in fraternal charity, but not as a recognition of doctrinal or canonical supremacy. Nor do We contest its use of the title "Bishop of Rome," for We do not claim that diocesan office ourselves. Rather, We affirm that the visible primacy of the Latin Orthodox tradition has, by divine providence and ecclesiastical necessity, passed in spirit and function to the United Roman-Ruthenian Church — which alone among the Apostolic Churches preserves the Latin patrimony free from the distortions of modernism. Our purpose is not rivalry, but fidelity; not to supplant, but to preserve and to heal.

And yet, the United Roman-Ruthenian Church is not a Latin Church in disguise, nor a revival of Roman centralism, but rather the providential continuation of Rome’s mission through Holy Rus’. It is an Eastern Roman Church with Latin heritage, rooted in the Orthodox soul of Ruthenia (Old Russia), bearing the spiritual patrimony of both Latin and Byzantine tradition, the Slavic legacy, and the inheritance of the undivided Church. Our apostolic mission is the integration of Eastern and Western heritage into the Orthodox fullness — not by syncretism, but by harmony — in the spirit of the ancient Pentarchy and conciliarity. Rome, in this sense, has found its renewal under Rome-Ruthenia, not by conquest or politics, but by providential realignment in truth. Indeed, the One, Holy, Apostolic, Orthodox, and Catholic Church is the one, indivisible Church of Christ, not by works of men, but solely because, by the grace of God expressed in the Passion of Christ, in the blood of the martyrs, and in the witness of the saints, the Church has preserved to this day this, its God-given mission.

V. To the Faithful

We speak now not merely to the powerful, but to all the faithful, to the clergy and faithful who still proclaim the Creed in a world that has forgotten how to kneel before God, who still maintain and profess the Orthodox faith. You are not alone. The Church is not dead. Whether we be many, and whether we be joined or scattered, we are the true Church.

VI. A Call to Faith

To those clergy who are not corrupted, but Orthodox, We say keep the faith. To bishops who know the truth, have the courage to act in justice. To all Churches, wounded by schism, yet noble in faith, let us join together, not in submission, but in fulfillment. To all the faithful: hold fast, teach your children, confess the truth. Do not follow the false teachings of the era, but stay with the timeless faith of Christ. Together this, with the blood of the martyrs and the power of the confessors, is the seed of this new spring.

VII. Conclusion

Let us remember that Orthodoxy is truth: truth handed down, preserved, and lived. And the truth does not cease to be true because some will not accept it. (St. John of Damascus) “To be Orthodox means to have the God-man Christ constantly in your soul, to live in Him, think in Him, feel in Him, act in Him.” St. Justin Popovichф

From the East, in Holy Rus', Peter has risen again — not in personal glory, but in the glory of Christ. We do not claim perfection. We claim only what was given to Us: the keys, the cross, and the promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail.

Monday, May 26, 2025

Celebration of the Principal Patronal Feast of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church and State Sts. Peter, Andrew, Stephen, and Mark

H.A.H. the Prince-Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia
gives the Apostolic Blessing for Orthodox Old 
Catholics in the Roman-Ruthenian Church
and State around the world.
By J. Du Bois

ROME-RUTHENIA 26 May 2025 (NRom)

This past Sunday, the United Roman-Ruthenian Church and Pontifical Imperial State celebrated, for the first time since its formal designation, the Principal Patronal Feast honoring Saints Peter, Andrew, Stephen, and Mark—the spiritual foundation of the Roman-Ruthenian mission and identity.

Held annually on the Sunday nearest to 28 May, this feast commemorates the date in 2023 when the jurisdictions that would become the modern United Roman-Ruthenian Church were formally united by papal bull. The alignment of Apostolic succession, Eastern and Western heritage, and imperial patrimony is embodied in this day, which now serves as the main spiritual and civic holiday of the Roman-Ruthenian Church and State.

H.A.H. Radislav I of Rome-Ruthenia signing
the bull to merge jurisdictions and establish
the modern United Roman-Ruthenian Church. 

The four Apostolic Patrons—Peter, first among the Apostles and keeper of the keys; Andrew, the First Called and founder of the Church of Rus’; Stephen, the Apostle, Archdeacon, and Protomartyr, defender of truth; and Mark, evangelist of the apostolic tradition and founder of the See of Aquileia—together represent the URRC’s apostolic heritage and calling to uphold unity, orthodoxy, and evangelic mission across the Christian world. The Roman-Ruthenian Church and State is the rightful temporal successor of St. Peter, carrying the historical and documented patrimony of Rome and Russia through St. Leo X, with full Orthodox and Catholic autocephalous authority — equal to the Vatican, Constantinople, and other Patriarchates. And, the Patriarchal succession of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church derives principally from the Russian Orthodox Patriarchs of Moscow, the Syrian Patriarchs of Bablylon, the Orthodox Patriarchs of America (Russian derivative), the Greek Patriarchs of Jerusalem, and the Western Patriarchate of Rome. The specific patriarchate of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, known as the Catholicate of Rome-Ruthenia is not new, but is a continuing derivative of the principal patriarchal successors and part of the one original Church. (Read more about the Roman-Ruthenian papacy here.)

The day was marked by liturgical celebrations, prayers for unity among all Apostolic Christians, and official messages from the Pontifical Court. His Apostolic Highness Prince-Bishop Radislav I, Roman-Ruthenian Pope, offered a reflection on the Church’s continuing mission “to walk with the faithful as a father, servant, and brother in the fullness of Apostolic truth.”

This inaugural celebration underscores the unique calling of the URRC as the custodian of both Eastern and Western Christian legacies. In a world increasingly fractured by modernism, secularism, and forgetfulness of sacred tradition, the Roman-Ruthenian Church and State stands as a living bridge — not by conquest, but by providence.

“Through the witness of these holy Apostles, may we remain firm in the faith once delivered to the saints, and continue to shine as a beacon of unity in Christendom.” Radislav I 

Monday, May 12, 2025

The Coat of Arms of the Roman-Ruthenian Pope

By A. DiNardo

ROME-RUTHENIA 12 May 2025 (NRom)

Within the intricate heraldry of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church lies a tapestry woven with threads of ancient and spiritual meaning. The Lesser Arms of the Roman-Ruthenian Pope present the essential symbols of his spiritual and temporal office in a compact yet dignified form, suitable for both ceremonial and daily ecclesiastical use. (Learn more about the canonical development and spiritual foundation of the Roman-Ruthenian papacy — a title formally conferred in 2014 on the patriarchal office of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church — in this document published by the Pontifical Court.)

At the center, the armorial shield bears the black imperial double-headed eagle, each head crowned and turned outward, signifying the unity of East and West under a single apostolic witness — a reference to both Rome and Holy Rus’, and the continuity preserved in Orthodox and Old Catholic tradition. The eagle grasps in its talons the triple cross, emblematic of the Petrine ministry within the Roman-Ruthenian Church, and the orb, symbolizing the spiritual stewardship of Christendom. In the center of the eagle rests a smaller shield bearing the white eagle on a blue field, the personal arms of the Prince-Bishop.

Above the shield rises the Papal tiara in the Roman-Ruthenian form, symbolizing not only Petrine succession but also the spiritual sovereignty of the Holy Apostolic See. Behind the tiara are crossed the key of St. Peter and the sword of St. Mark, indicating the power to bind and loose, and the readiness to defend the faith in word and deed.

To either side, the arms are flanked by figures known in heraldry as supporters:

– On the viewer’s left, robed in red and bearing a flaming sword, stands St. Michael the Archangel, representing the Church Militant — faithful in struggle, vigilant in truth, and steadfast in sacrifice.

– On the right, clad in blue and holding the palm of peace, stands Holy Wisdom, depicted in feminine form, signifying the Church Triumphant — radiant in grace and adorned with the eternal reward of fidelity.

Together, these supporters embody both the Church’s earthly mission and its heavenly fulfillment.

This coat of arms is not merely an emblem of office, but a theological proclamation: that the Roman-Ruthenian Pope, the head of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, bears both the cross and the crown, not for personal glory, but in the name of Christ and His Church — preserving what others have abandoned, and shepherding the faithful in truth, unity, and holy tradition.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

A Humble Worker in the Vineyard of Our Lord – in the Church and in the World

Prince-Bishop Radislav (Rutherford) I of
Rome-Ruthenia addresses the campus at
the University of Minnesota Crookston.

M. Derosiers

ROME-RUTHENIA 10 May 2025 (NRom)

In a modest lecture hall at the University of Minnesota Crookston, students convened for lessons in business and behavioral science. Yet, unbeknownst to many, a man with soft eyes and crisp delivery, their professor held a distinguished role beyond academia: Supreme Pontiff of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church.

H.A.H. Prince-Bishop Radislav I of Rome-Ruthenia, Roman-Ruthenian Pope, also known in academia as Prof. Rutherford Johnson, taught courses in economics, finance, statistics, and sustainability at the University of Minnesota Crookston for almost a decade. Affectionately known by many students and colleagues as "Dr. Rutherford," he was well-respected for his dedication to students and helpful nature. Indeed, he always saw teaching as part of his mission of service to others. And now he continues his educational mission in online classrooms around the world where he can reach countless people who would not otherwise be able to study and improve their lives. It is a life-changing mission that he carries out in addition to the responsibilities of running a world-wide Orthodox and Old Catholic church of ancient origins.

The Roman-Ruthenian Pope, (Dr. Rutherford, as he was affectionately known),
engages with students at the University of Minnesota Crookston
on questions of economics, culture, and ethics. 

At Minnesota, and now online, he often appeared not in his white habit, but in suit and tie — part of his Church’s own tradition — blending academic rigor with moral insight. Students describe his classes as “rigorous,” “introspective,” and “life-changing.” Yet the syllabus is standard, as you might find at any secular institution: economic principles, market structures, behavioral models, risk assessment, sustainable business practices. It is only when the professor speaks of the 'why' beneath the 'what' that glimpses of the pontiff begin to surface.

His teaching seamlessly integrated discussions on profit with profound inquiries into justice, human dignity, and the purpose of work, prompting students to reflect deeply on the ethical dimensions of economics. It’s never preachy, and indeed students have commented on his remarkable tolerance for others to express their beliefs in class without fear. Yet, his lectures make students think about what they're actually building with their lives.
 The Roman-Ruthenian Pope at University of Minnesota Crookston
commencement, with Douglas A. Huebsch (University Board of Regents),
Dr. Mary Holz-Clause (Chancellor), and Dr. John Hoffman
(Vice Chancellor of UMC, later President of Bemidji State University).

And how did this happen? Always serving with the humility of his office, he applied like any other scholar. He holds a PhD in Applied (Agricultural) Economics (with a behavioral science focus) from the University of Kentucky, an M.S. in Economics and a B.S. with Honors in Applied Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an A.L.M. in Sustainability from Harvard University Extension School. He even had graduate medical studies that formed part of the foundation for his later behavioral science track in economics. And through his time in academia, he was made a Fellow of the famed Royal Geographical Society in London, a Fellow of the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, and received the ACBSP's Teaching Excellence Award. All, however, not for his own glory, but that of God.
Prince-Bishop Radislav in the habit of his
office of service to others, continuing a mission
of spiritual leadership rooted in Apostolic tradition.
.

For the Prince-Bishop himself, the move to teach as a clergyman was driven by necessity and conviction. “It is the duty of the shepherd,” he said, “to be among the sheep — not only in their moments of prayer, but in their studies, struggles, and questions about the world.”

While some may view the combination of ecclesiastical leadership and academic instruction as unconventional in modern secular universities, others see it as a revival of the historical tradition where clergy were integral to scholarly pursuits. One could even say it is a return to apostolic simplicity. Of course, clergy in the halls of academia is not strange, for the Church established the university system as we know it, and clerics on campus once was a common sight. Even Harvard started as a training ground for protestant clergy.
Prince-Bishop Radislav with Hon. Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture
of the United States at a special event on campus at the
University of Minnesota Crookston highlighting the pontiff's
continued service in global policy, education, and sustainability
.

And in the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, they follow the ancient model of the apostles. Rather than necessarily living in a specified location, bishops go where they are called by mission. This applies to the Prince-Bishop as well. And, the presence of the Roman-Ruthenian Pope in academia evokes the image of St. Paul engaging with scholars in Athens, bridging faith and reason to illuminate eternal truths in contemporary settings.

Though he never hides his office, he rarely mentions it during class. Yet, students are aware. Some have followed him outside of class into deeper reflection; others are simply impressed by his intellectual clarity and moral steadiness. As the pontiff himself says, “Even in red shoes, the Gospel compels us to kneel beside the brokenhearted.” For his students, he remains a mentor. For the faithful he shepherds around the world, a pontiff. And for all, a living reminder that faith and reason are never truly separate.

Further Reading: 

Friday, May 9, 2025

Two American-Born Popes: A Greeting from the Roman-Ruthenian Church


By A. DiNardo

ROME-RUTHENIA 09 May 2025 (NRom)

On the Election of His Holiness Leo XIV as Bishop of Rome

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church and Pontifical Imperial State of Rome-Ruthenia extends its prayerful goodwill and sincere Christian greetings upon the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as Bishop of Rome. In the spirit of apostolic fraternity and ancient conciliar tradition, we pray that his tenure may be guided by wisdom, peace, and fidelity to the deposit of faith.

Coat of arms of H.A.H. Radislav I,
Roman-Ruthenian Pope — symbolizing
the sacred continuity of the Apostolic
and Imperial heritage of Rome and Rus’.

While headlines across the globe celebrate the Vatican’s first American-born Pope (meaning U.S.-born since Pope Francis was born in Argentina and therefore American), it is quietly remembered within the Roman-Ruthenian tradition that its own Apostolic Father, His Apostolic Highness the Most Holy Prince-Bishop Radislav I, Roman-Ruthenian Pope was likewise born on American soil — though his life and mission have long been rooted in a deeply Roman-Ruthenian cultural, ethnic, spiritual, and dynastic identity. His life and vocation remain shaped not by modern nationalisms, but by Holy Rus’ and ancient Christendom. (Learn more here.)   Far from being ‘American’ in the national or cultural sense, his vocation is grounded in sacred continuity — shaped not by modern nationalism, but by the legacy of Holy Rus’ and ancient Christendom. (Learn more about the Roman-Ruthenian papacy  a title formally conferred in 2014 on the patriarchal office of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church  and its unique origin here.)

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church, distinct in its Orthodox and Old Catholic heritage, maintains its own Apostolic succession and papal dignity, serving as a bridge between East and West and a guardian of traditional Christian unity in a fragmented age. And, neither the United Roman-Ruthenian Church nor the Roman Catholic Church are the only Churches with Popes. The Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Alexandrian Churches both have Popes, and their use of the title is actually older than the Vatican or the Roman-Ruthenian Church. 

Historical Timeline - Click for larger version.

Ad multos annos to the new Bishop of Rome, with every prayer for the fruitful leadership of the Roman Church and for all the faithful entrusted to his pastoral care.