Why Pope Leo’s new encyclical quotes Gandalf: Literary images of hope and faith in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’
Throughout “Magnifica Humanitas,” the two images used to represent the choice before us are of the Tower of Babel and Nehemiah’s slow reconstruction of Jerusalem. You can guess which one our Augustinian pope prefers—along with folks like J. R. R. Tolkien.
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From the Bronx to the Lecture Hall: What My Jesuit Education Taught Me About Voice and Vocation
What my teachers gave me did not determine where I would go, but it kept pressing one question: What is your education for?
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VIDEO | Pope Leo’s first month: Your questions answered
On June 9, America Media’s team of experts hosted an exclusive, subscriber-only event to answer your specific questions about Pope Leo XIV, the conclave and this historic time in our church.
CURRENT ISSUE • Vol. 233 / No. 10
May 2026

Featured Articles
Are my desires in line with God’s plan for me?
A Reflection for Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time, by William Gualtiere
The Madonna and Child who captured the world’s attention on Pope Leo’s Africa trip
Pope Leo’s visit this year to Africa made the news for many reasons, but my social media blossomed with one image from his trip: the unfamiliar (to me) but magnetic image of Our Lady of Bisila, Mother and Patroness of Equatorial Guinea.








