Speakers

Dr. Chris Castaldo

Pastor of New Covenant Church

Naperville, Illinois

Biography

Dr. Chris Castaldo is the Lead Pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois, and a fellow at the Center for Pastor Theologians. Raised in a Catholic family on Long Island, Chris converted to evangelical Protestantism after encountering the gospel’s assurance of forgiveness. He has written extensively on Catholic-Protestant dialogue, including books such as Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic and Talking to Catholics about the Gospel. His work emphasizes grace-filled engagement with Catholics while maintaining theological clarity. Chris also explores themes of gospel renewal in his writings and research, particularly through the study of figures like Peter Martyr Vermigli.

Dr. Leonardo De Chirico

Pastor of Breccia di Roma and Director of Reformanda Initiative

Rome, Italy

Biography

Dr. Leonardo De Chirico is an evangelical theologian and pastor who leads Breccia di Roma Church in Rome, Italy. He holds degrees in History, Theology, and Bioethics, as well as a Ph.D. from King’s College London. Leonardo is the founder of Vatican Files, a resource offering evangelical perspectives on Roman Catholicism, and serves as Director of the Reformanda Initiative, which equips evangelical leaders to engage with Catholicism critically yet respectfully. His scholarly contributions include books such as Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism.

Leonardo is also involved in church planting efforts in Rome and serves as chairman of the theological commission of the Italian Evangelical Alliance.

Dr. Gavin Ortlund

President of Truth Unites

Nashville, Tennessee

Biography

Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a pastor, theologian, and apologist who serves as President of Truth Unites, a ministry dedicated to promoting gospel assurance through theological depth. He is also Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville and Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary. Gavin holds a Ph.D. in historical theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and has authored several acclaimed books, including Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn’t and What It Means to Be Protestant. His work often focuses on Protestant theology, historical retrieval, and apologetics—aimed at fostering unity within evangelicalism while addressing contemporary cultural challenges.

Gavin is a sought-after speaker and runs the popular YouTube channel Truth Unites. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Esther, and their five children.