EXPERTS ADVISORY

ANN ARBOR—Pope Francis on Thursday visits the Philippines—one of the most devoutly Catholic countries in the world. Professors at the University of Michigan are available to discuss the pope’s leadership challenges and the Church’s influence in the country and other parts of Asia.

Deirdre de la Cruz, assistant professor of history and Southeast Asia studies, specializes in Philippine history and ethnography. Her research interests include theories of religion, colonialism and post-colonialism, visual culture, mass media and global occultisms. Contact: 734-615-8504, [email protected]. Bio: http://bit.ly/1yfPZ2z

Ken Kollman, professor of political science, can discuss the pope’s leadership challenges, particularly his efforts to shake up the Vatican’s old guard. His recent book, “Perils of Centralization,” includes research on the European Union, the Roman Catholic Church, General Motors Co. and the U.S. government. Contact: 734-936-0062, [email protected]. Bio: http://bit.ly/1z6nZRI

Kollman has written in the fifteeneightyfour blog: “If Francis wants to decentralize the Church away from complete papal authority, he will not succeed because centralization in the Church is quite entrenched. Any single pope will fail to decentralize unless he is willing to risk a major rupture. Not enough bishops have an interest in decentralization.”

Daniel Levine, professor emeritus of political science, can discuss the pope’s leadership style and the challenges the Church faces from evangelical Protestant groups. His most recent book is “Politics, Religion and Society in Latin America.” Contact: [email protected]. Bio: http://bit.ly/1C2Yqyk

Levine said at a recent talk at U-M: “The main thing that I think is interesting is how he (Pope Francis) has confounded expectations—how he has changed the tone of discourse. He has altered the tone of public discussion while setting in motion some potentially very significant reforms in the Vatican and its bureaucracy and top leadership.”