2025 TLC World Cup

Welcome to the 2025 Libertarian Catholic World Cup! Who will win?

Vote for your picks at https://commoninja.site/beb176c8-18d3-4879-9cc1-d9622dcadac8
Participate in the polls on our FB page from June 18-30
Winners will win their choice of any T-shirt on Libertas Tees

Group 1: Holy Land

St. Peter (born in Bethsaida, Galilee, ~1 BC): First pope, foundational to Christianity, established the Church in Rome. “We must obey God rather than men.” https://libertaspress.org/product/st-peter-we-must-obey-god-rather-than-men-t-shirt/
St. Paul (born in Tarsus, Cilicia, ~5–10 AD): Apostle to the Gentiles, shaped Christian theology via New Testament epistles. “Legality isn’t morality” https://libertaspress.org/product/st-paul-legality-isnt-morality-t-shirt/

Group 2: North Africa

St. Augustine (born in Thagaste, Numidia, 354): Shaped Western theology (Confessions, City of God) and philosophy. https://libertaspress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/T-augustine
St. Josephine Bakhita (born in Darfur, Sudan, 1869): Kidnapped into slavery, freed in Italy, became a Canossian Sister, symbol of resilience against slavery.

Group 3: Italy

St. Thomas Aquinas (born in Roccasecca, ~1225): Synthesized Aristotelianism with Christianity, shaped Scholasticism. https://libertaspress.org/product/st-thomas-aquinas-vulnero-nemo-harm-no-one-premium-t-shirt/
Pope Leo XIII (born in Carpineto Romano, 1810): Authored Rerum Novarum, foundational for Catholic social teaching. https://thelibertariancatholic.com/pope-leo-xiii-on-socialism-and-private-property/
Pope St. John XXIII (born in Sotto il Monte, 1881): Convened Vatican II, modernized the Church.

Group 4: Asia Minor

St. Ignatius of Antioch (born in Antioch, ~35–50 AD): Shaped early Christian theology and Church structure. https://libertaspress.org/product/st-ignatius-of-antioch-death-in-christ-jesus-over-all-the-power-on-earth-t-shirt/
St. Polycarp (born in Smyrna, ~69 AD): Influenced martyrdom narratives and apostolic tradition. https://libertaspress.org/product/st-polycarp-i-dont-bow-to-caesar-t-shirt/

Group 5: Spain

School of Salamanca https://thelibertariancatholic.com/the-school-of-salamanca/
Francisco de Vitoria (born in Burgos, ~1483): Pioneered international law and human rights.
Francisco Suárez (born in Granada, 1548): Influenced metaphysics and political theory.
Bartolomé de las Casas (born in Seville, 1484): Advocated for indigenous rights in the Americas.
Domingo de Soto (born in Segovia, 1494): Contributed to economic theory and natural law.
Martín de Azpilcueta (born in Barásoain, 1491): Developed monetary theory (quantity theory of money).
Juan de Mariana (born in Talavera, 1536): Influenced political philosophy with tyrannicide justification.

Group 6: Poland

Pope St. John Paul II (born in Wadowice, 1920): Contributed to fall of communism, global Catholic influence. https://libertaspress.org/product/st-john-paul-ii-truth-and-freedom-t-shirt/
St. Maximilian Kolbe (born in Zduńska Wola, 1894): Martyr at Auschwitz, symbol of self-sacrifice. https://libertaspress.org/product/st-maximilian-kolbe-right-isnt-always-legal-t-shirt/

Group 7: UK

JRR Tolkien (born in Bloemfontein, 1892): Shaped modern fantasy literature with The Lord of the Rings. https://thelibertariancatholic.com/jrr-tolkiens-politics/
GK Chesterton (born in London, 1874): Influenced Christian apologetics and literary criticism. https://thelibertariancatholic.com/chesterton-abolish-god-and-government-becomes-the-god/
Thomas Becket (born in London, ~1118): Symbol of Church-state conflict, medieval influence.
Lord Acton (born in Naples, 1834): Coined “power corrupts,” influenced political theory. https://libertaspress.org/product/lord-acton-power-corrupts-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-t-shirt/

Group 8: France

Alexis de Tocqueville (born in Paris, 1805): Influenced political science with Democracy in America.
Frederick Bastiat (born in Bayonne, 1801): Championed free markets, influenced libertarianism. https://libertaspress.org/product/the-law-by-frederic-bastiat/
René Girard (born in Avignon, 1923): Developed mimetic theory, impacted theology and anthropology.
Martyrs of the Vendée (Vendée region, 1793–1796): Symbol of resistance to French Revolution’s secularism. https://libertaspress.org/product/dieu-le-roi-t-shirt/

Group 9: US

Venerable Fulton Sheen (born in El Paso, IL, 1895): Influenced American Catholicism via media. “Freedom Under God” https://libertaspress.org/product/freedom-under-god/
Dorothy Day (born in Brooklyn, 1897): Founded Catholic Worker Movement, influenced social activism.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (born in New York City, 1774): Founded Catholic schools, shaped U.S. education. https://libertaspress.org/product/st-elizabeth-ann-seton-be-the-light-you-want-to-see-in-the-world-t-shirt/

Group 10: South America

St. Martin de Porres (born in Lima, Peru, 1579): Dominican lay brother, known for charity and racial integration.
St. Peter Claver (born in Verdú, Spain, 1580, worked in Cartagena, Colombia): Jesuit priest, “Apostle of the Slaves.” https://libertaspress.org/product/st-peter-claver-servant-to-slaves-t-shirt/

Group 11: Romania

The Blessed Greek Catholic Bishop Martyrs of Communism—Valeriu Traian Frențiu, Vasile Aftenie, Ioan Suciu, Tit Liviu Chinezu, Ioan Balan, Alexandru Rusu, and Iuliu Hossu—stood as unwavering beacons of faith, sacrificing their lives to resist communist oppression in Romania.

Group 12: Mexico

Blessed Miguel Pro and the Cristeros (born in Guadalupe, 1891): Martyr during Cristero War, symbol of Mexican resistance. https://libertaspress.org/product/viva-cristo-rey/

Group 13: Hungary

Venerable József Mindszenty (born in Csehimindszent, 1892): Resisted communism in Hungary.

Group 14: Ukraine

Blessed Martyrs of the Ukrainian Church (western Ukraine, 20th century): Symbol of Greek-Catholic resilience.

Group 15: Czechoslovakia

Blessed Pavel Peter Gojdič (born in Ruské Pekľany, 1888): Martyred Greek-Catholic bishop.
Blessed Methodius Dominic Trčka (born in Frýdlant, 1886): Redemptorist priest, martyr.
Martyrs of Communism

Group 16: Croatia