The slate of delegates is emblematic of the at-times competing ideological poles of the U.S. church—and the continued effort by Francis to reorient U.S. bishops toward his vision for the church.

“I’m honored to be invited by the Holy Father to participate in the Synod,” Father James Martin said. “As a Jesuit, I’m committed to this kind of group discernment.”

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, recently concluded a two-week visit to Poland and war-torn Ukraine, he shares his experience with America's Vatican correspondent, Gerry O'Connell.

Archbishop Fernández’s appointment has been met with criticisms focusing on a book he wrote about kissing, his handling of sexual abuse and comments he made expressing an openness to blessing gay and lesbian couples.

In the second part of this exclusive interview with America, Archbishop Frank Leo says Pope Francis “stunned” him by nominating him as archbishop of Toronto.

A Reflection for Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time, by Rachel Lu

The Catholic Church must take great care to avoid rites or blessings that suggest marriage is anything other than a sacramental bond between one man and one woman, the incoming prefect of the Vatican's doctrinal office said.

In this exclusive interview, the new archbishop of Toronto, the Most Rev. Frank Leo, talks about his call to the priesthood, life as a Vatican diplomat and what he learned as secretary general of the Canadian Catholic bishops’ conference.

A Reflection for the Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle, by Valerie Schultz

In a surprise move, Pope Francis has appointed the Argentine theologian and archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández as the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.