The longtime ‘America’ illustrator John Hapgood served in World War II in the “Ghost Army,” a unit dedicated to deception and trickery that ran 21 different ersatz military campaigns between D-Day and the surrender of Germany in May 1945.
Arts & Culture
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
The genius of James Joyce: Sin, guilt and the redemptive power of laughter
For James Joyce, humanity’s faulty condition “is happy because faults, errors, mistakes and misunderstandings” are the birth of comedy, writes Gabrielle Carey in a new biography.
Posted inArts & Culture, News
Pope Francis jokes with Colbert, Fallon, Conan, Whoopi, Chris Rock, Gaffigan and others at the Vatican
Pope Francis met with comedians to discuss the importance of humor, specifically as a tool for unity in the face of darkness and conflict.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
How Whoopi Goldberg evangelized beyond the convent walls in ‘Sister Act’
“Sister Act” embodies the welcoming spirit of a church willing to go out into the street.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Augustine, Tolstoy and Sally Rooney: 15 summer reading recs for the beach and the nightstand
Some suggestions from the staff of America for summer reading: books old and new, long and short, funny and sad.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
Catholic Movie Club: 9 movies to watch for Pride Month
These are films that I find meaningful and believe resonate with our faith—particularly our call to love our L.G.B.T.Q. siblings and to uphold their human dignity.
Posted inArts & Culture, Speeches
Pope Francis tells comedians: It’s OK to laugh at God
“Can we laugh at God?’ Pope Francis asked a group of comedians invited for an audience at the Vatican. “Of course, we can, just as we play and joke with the people we love.“
Posted inArts & Culture, Dispatches
Why Pope Francis invited Stephen Colbert, Chris Rock and Whoopi Goldberg to the Vatican
Have you heard the one where Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg and Conan O’Brien walked into the Vatican?
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
How Jürgen Moltmann’s ‘theology of hope’ inspired liberation theology
Jürgen Moltmann’s influence on theology extended far beyond his native Germany or his religious denomination. His “theology of hope” influenced everything from liberation theology to contemporary politics.
Posted inArts & Culture, Ideas
‘Challengers’ has made tennis cool again. Can today’s players live up to the hype?
Professional tennis in the real world—as opposed to the reel world—is not quite as cool or sexy.