The past year was one of significant change, in our church and in our world. The faith stories with which America’s readers were most engaged reflect that reality. Our writers mourned the loss of Francis, the beloved Jesuit pope, and welcomed Leo XVI, who made history as the first pope from the United States. The return of the Trump administration brought heartbreak and chaos to immigrant families, but also some hopeful responses from Catholics. Our writers grappled with aging and parenting. We filtered global events through the lens of faith and made national stories personal ones.

As the year comes to a close, we urge you to revisit these faith stories that made an impact in 2025—and to join us in praying for a peace-filled and hopeful 2026. 

  1. What we saw during an ICE arrest and immigration court hearing: the breakdown of justice in America 
  2. The Catholic nun who brought faith and social justice to New York’s airwaves for over 50 years 
  3. A Jesuit guide to aging and retirement
  4. Why Pope Francis means so much to non-Catholics 
  5. Who is Pope Leo? | 5 surprising things I learned while reporting on Robert Prevost 
  6. The Creed vs. the culture wars: Hunkered down in the Catholic demilitarized zone 
  7. The spirituality of being a #Boymom