A Reflection for Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, by James T. Keane
James T. Keane
James T. Keane is a Senior Editor at America.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Riley Hughes, an unsung literary jack of all trades
It is not an exaggeration to say that between 1940 and 1980, the author and critic Riley Hughes reviewed well over 1,000 books for different Catholic magazines.
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
Listening to the stranger
A Reflection for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, by James T. Keane
Posted inExplainer, Faith
What’s in a name? Why the pope picked ‘Leo XIV’
Pope Leo XIV picked one of the most common names in history for a pope. But it is a name with great resonance in modern church history, and one whose selection suggests quite a bit about what the reign of the new pontiff might be like.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
The history (and future) of covering conclaves
‘America’ is covering its 10th papal conclave this week—and while the technology has changed, the content remains much the same.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
The history of the Sistine Chapel—where cardinals will choose the next pope
The papal conclave will take place as usual in the hallowed space of the Sistine Chapel. What is the history of this famous church and its artistic treasures?
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Remembering Peru’s literary master, Mario Vargas Llosa
Mario Vargas Llosa’s long literary life established him as a monumental figure in Spanish-language literature and Latin American history.
![20160811T1325-1001-CNS-POPE-SYRIAN-REFUGEES [web]](https://i0.wp.com/www.americamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20160811T1325-1001-CNS-POPE-SYRIAN-REFUGEES-web.jpg-388895.jpg?resize=770%2C480&ssl=1)
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Pope Francis the bookworm
Pope Francis was a great lover of literature: He peppered his homilies, talks and even encyclicals with literary references from Dostoyevsky, Proust, Hopkins, Dante and more, and he also encouraged his flock to read broadly and often.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
‘The Great Gatsby’ got a bad review in America. A century later, how do we see F. Scott Fitzgerald?
F. Scott Fitzgerald was not a favorite of America’s editors for many years, but they all read ‘Gatsby.’ Everyone reads ‘Gatsby.’
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Why the Council of Nicaea still matters—1,700 years later
What happened at Nicaea in A.D. 325? And why is that still so important for Christian churches today?