Premieres Sunday, November 13 at 6pm on WTTW11

Bishop Robert Barron is on a new journey to unlock the truth behind the Catholic Church's most influential people. Catholicism: The Pivotal Players is a multi-part series that illumines a handful of saints, artists, mystics, and scholars who not only shaped the life of the Church but changed the course of civilization. Explore Rome, Florence, Assisi and more as you learn how these locations played a part in the story of St. Francis of Assisi and Michelangelo, and thus later, the Catholic Church.

Episode 1: Michelangelo

Travel with Bishop Robert Barron as he studies some of the works of art in the world. From the magnificent David in Florence to the unparalleled paintings in the Sistine Chapel to the haunting Pieta in Rome, Michelangelo’s legacy reveals the creative potential of the human spirit and shows that beauty is a route of access to the transcendent.

Episode 2: St. Francis of Assisi

Journey from the lovely streets and basilicas of Assisi and Gubbio to the gorgeous, remote monasteries of La Verna and Eremo delle Carceri with Bishop Barron as he explores the extraordinary life of St. Francis of Assisi. Bishop Barron explains how a life of true authenticity and goodness can shake the foundations of the world by examining the little friar from Umbria who became one of the most important and influential figures of the Middle Ages.