DES MOINES, Iowa (October 8, 2026) — Patrick Novecosky joined Deacon Mark Campbell on Iowa Catholic Radio this morning to discuss his new book, Icons of Mercy: The Faith, Friendship, and Legacy of John Paul II and Mother Teresa. Their conversation focused especially on the remarkable friendship between these two saints and the deep spiritual kinship they shared.
Patrick joked that if John Paul II and Mother Teresa were teenagers today, they might be calling each other “Twin.” They were extraordinarily like-minded, particularly in their understanding of human dignity and God’s mercy. John Paul II was a great teacher of those truths, articulating with extraordinary clarity the dignity of every human person and the boundless mercy of God. Mother Teresa, meanwhile, put those same principles into practice in the most concrete way possible—serving one person at a time, especially the poorest, weakest, and most forgotten.
The conversation also offered a glimpse into Patrick’s next writing project, a book exploring how men can be fully masculine and fully holy at the same time. Authentic masculinity and holiness are not competing ideals. At their best, they reinforce one another—and the lives of the saints offer powerful examples of what strength, sacrifice, courage, and love look like when rooted in Christ.
