News & Commentary

Black smoke billows from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel May 8, 2025, on the second day of the conclave.

A morning of black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney

The 133 cardinals who entered the conclave failed to reach a two-thirds supermajority of at least 89 votes to elect a new pope during their morning session May 8.
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Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is pictured in a June 3, 2020, photo.

After weeks of speculation, Harris picks Minnesota’s Walz as her running mate

Vice President Kamala Harris selected Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., as her running mate on the Democratic Party's ticket Aug. 6.
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Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley welcomes Archbishop Richard G. Henning in the cardinal's offices in the Archdiocese of Boston's Pastoral Center in Braintree, Mass., Aug. 5, 2024, after Pope Francis accepted Cardinal O'Malley's resignation and named then-Bishop Henning of Providence, R.I., as his successor.

Pope appoints Rhode Island bishop to succeed Cardinal O’Malley as Boston archbishop

Ending months of speculation about the future leadership of the Archdiocese of Boston, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley and appointed Bishop Richard G. Henning of Providence, Rhode Island, to succeed him as the archdiocese's ...
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Katie Ledecky of United States celebrates on the podium after wining her ninth Olympic gold medal during the women's 800-meter freestyle Aug. 3, 2024, at Paris La Defense Arena. Ledecky is a graduate of Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Md.

American Olympic medalists in Paris known for leaning on faith

Among American Olympians achieving a spot on the podium in Paris are Catholics who have expressed their dependence on faith over the years as they've pursued excellence in their athletic pursuits.
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Mark Moses and Dennis Quad star in the movie "Reagan." The movie was directed by acclaimed Catholic filmmaker Sean McNamara.

Catholic filmmaker Sean McNamara offers insights on faith and the movie industry

We Catholics can get discouraged at times when we struggle to find entertainment that doesn’t fly in the face of our beliefs and values. We may like a show, movie, podcast or social media influencer, but just wish the stories ...
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Franciscan Father Paolo Benanti, an adviser to Pope Francis on ethics and technology, talks with Microsoft President Brad Smith about ethics and artificial intelligence during an event on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Wash., July 23, 2024. Father Benanti is a member of the United Nations’ advisory body on artificial intelligence.

Papal adviser, head of Microsoft talk ethics and AI in conversation

Dozens of technologists and Catholics gathered at Microsoft in Redmond for a conversation about ethics in artificial intelligence between an "unlikely pair," as they were introduced: a papal adviser and the head of Microsoft.
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Father Dan Riley and Stephen Copeland

The Franciscan Friar Who Taught Me To Read

There’s a line from the poet Robert Lax that would always make my dear friend, Fr. Dan Riley, choke up. That line was this: “We rose and came to the field.”
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