Sometime in his midlife, after becoming a priest and then a bishop, Cardinal Ladislav Nemet experienced a difficult period of burn-out. It took a community of family, friends and comrades in ministry to restore his spirits and sense of purpose, and now he has practical advice to share with anyone dealing with this kind of professional exhaustion.

Cardinal Ladislav Nemet is the Archbishop of Belgrade, Serbia, and a member of the Society of the Divine Word. He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, served as a delegate for the Synod of Bishops from 2021 to 2024, and was part of the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. 

Together with “The Spiritual Life” podcast host, James Martin, S.J., they discuss:

• How growing up in a communist country made Cardinal Nemet’s family “Catholics at home” but quiet in the public sphere 

• The importance of humor and joy in the spiritual life

• Recovering from burnout and turning to the psalms during a dark period

• Cardinal Nemet’s participation in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV

Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual reflection about this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/01/20/james-martin-cardinal-nemet-burnout

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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