A century ago, Al Smith was a force in American politics—and the first Catholic to mount a major run at the White House. And if he is to be believed, he didn't know what an encyclical was.

Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs according to the medical report from his doctors this evening, Feb. 18.

The pope needs to prepare for his inevitable decline and death.

His clinical condition is “complex,” the Vatican said.

The pope also extended his greetings to the thousands of artists who had come to celebrate their Jubilee in Rome this weekend.

To facilitate his recovery, doctors have prescribed that he observe “total rest,” the Vatican press office announced.

The announcement came as Francis was in his bed in the Gemelli Hospital being treated for an infection of the respiratory tract. A Vatican spokesman said "the Holy Father passed a good night and slept well.”

A Reflection for Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, by Zac Davis

A Reflection for Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, by Kerry Weber

A Reflection for Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, by Noah Banasiewicz, S.J.

A Reflection for Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, by Tim Reidy

On “Jesuitical” this week, Zac and Ashley chat with Simon Critchley, the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York, about his new book, 'Mysticism.'

RaMell Ross’ film ‘Nickel Boys’ is nominated for Best picture. His 2018 documentary is an attempt to express Black life and history as dynamic and vital.

By force of her imagination and skill, Emily Dickinson could take the measure of solitude, opprobrium and even damnation.

Halting the work of U.S.A.I.D. “will kill millions of people and condemn hundreds of millions more to lives of dehumanizing poverty.”

The new government in Ireland (which looks remarkably like the last one) faces a housing crisis that has become an economic and demographic emergency.

Dick Button, the voice of figure skating for half a decade, taught us what figure skating was supposed to be.

The heart of St. Roque lay in the display case in front of me. It still held the power of life and evangelization, announcing its presence at the very moment when I most needed faith and consolation.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, spoke out against President Donald Trump's proposal to deport more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza.