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Pat Marrin brings an insider’s view as a lifelong cartoonist, 20-year veteran of a Catholic religious order and as an editor with the National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company, recognized globally as the most reliable and independent voice on church reporting. A 1985 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Marrin brings his experience as a newsroom illustrator at the Topeka Capital Journal, as chair of the Journalism Department at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and as an editor and illustrator at the National Catholic Reporter. A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Marrin lives in Kansas City.

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Recent Comments

8 months ago on Francis

Thank you to Francis watchers for your patience. The best is yet to come as Francis finishes his prophetic mission into a different future for our troubled planet. I want to be part of this pilgrimage with all of you. Pat
11 months ago on Francis

Thank you, rekam, for spotting the typo. I have submitted a corrected version, hope it will get posted soon.I could blame it on Brother Leo, but he relies on me for such things.
11 months ago on Francis

Thanks to Maregirl for some back story. In August of 2021, the strip revealed that Brother Leo has a twin sister named Diana. They were born in Roccasaeca in southern Italy, the last of 10 children. Their mother died in childbirth. Diana was named after St. Diana, a Dominican sister from the 13th century who was famous for her spiritual love letters to another Dominican named Jordan (Leo’s baptismal name). In desperation, their father took out a loan from the Mafia. He was killed when he couldn’t repay it. Leo believed he died of a broken heart. These revelations began a multi cartoon adventure in the strip about Diana, who is a math teacher and a gardener. I revived the theme with the appearance of the roses she planted in Rome during her visit. (Cartoon for May 25) Further backstory. My wife, Diane, died in 2021. She loved the comic strip, so I honored her by putting her in it, including some pink roses she planted in our garden, which bloom each Spring. Sorry for the discontinuity for newcomers to the strip. That’s the story. Thanks for your patience.
almost 2 years ago on Francis

A good joke. Gabby went to the beach to meet the boats of refugees. Leo went to the dentention camps to help them. That was their vacation.
almost 2 years ago on Francis

Thanks to Dusky Paws for putting continuity into this plot twist. Fredo and Guido are former Mafia members in Rome who were determind to track and retrieve Gabby, a high profile escapee from their trafficking operation. Gabby had gone AWOL and was a beggar among the columns near St. Peter’s when Pope Francis called her a “pillar of the church” many cartoons ago. Leo remembered this remark and brought Gabby to the pope. She was kidnapped in Africa and brough to Rome, but emerges as an important advisor to the pope on women, Islam and refugees. Last summer she was again targeted by the Mafia, and Leo offered himself as a hostage instead, but converted the two agents, who joined the Order as Brothers Guido and Fredo, bonafide novices who released Gabby, ending the threat. Brother Fabio was sent by the Franciscan provincial to replace Brother Leo with the assumption he could give the Order a higher public profile and attract vocations. The pope could not override Leo’s vow of obedience to stop this, but had confidence it would work out. Fabio managed to appear in public pushing the pope’s wheelchair and attracted media coverage and an offer to be a TV anchor. This went to his head and doomed his chances at being a humble papal assistant. The Franciscan provincial ordered him back to the Friary and sent his trusty novices Fredo and Guido to bring him home. This is only a comic strip, but I am grateful to readers for putting life into it, and the real Franciscans for not taking offense at anything relating tp Leo, who is still the star of the show, even if he doesn’t know it. Thanks.
over 2 years ago on Francis

Please note an error in the Italian for “kiss.” It should be “Bacio” and not “Bocia.” My apologies to the Mafia.
over 3 years ago on Francis

There are also some people who are rightly called “Living Saints,” like Mother Teresa. Canonization only acknowledges after the fact that a person lived a holy life. This is Leo’s meaning. Long live Joe,
almost 4 years ago on Francis

It is Murillo’s painting of the Assumption of Mary. Not a very good depiction, but that was the intent. Thanks for asking. There is enough religious artwork out there to get an extra mile out of any cartoon theme.
about 4 years ago on Over the Hedge

Great strip, terrific art. Pogo returns just when we need him. Thanks. Pat Marrin
over 6 years ago on Francis

Thanks for the attention to detail. I am obviously not a knitter, but should have researched this better. Anything that breaks the spell of a cartoon stops the communication. I dropped a stitch (if this is a knitting thing).