As the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new leader, the editors of 'America' remember an extraordinary and beloved pontiff: Francis, a pope of monumental surprises.

The administration's attacks on immigrants imperil the rights and freedom of all Americans.

Donald Trump’s standoff with a federal judge over deportations is pushing the country toward a constitutional crisis.

The common date of Easter 2025 between East and West can prompt Christians to reflect on what we all share.

In order for the United States to remain “a government of laws, not of men,” the editors write, all officials entrusted with elected authority must recognize the constraints on their own power.

Christian hope, as Pope Francis understands it, reminds us that a better and more just world is within our grasp.

In the language of Catholic social teaching, we might say that voters doubt whether the political system in which they participate sustains the common good.

The Editors: This moment cries out for the kind of decisive action that perhaps only a lame-duck presidency can bring about: putting the burden of peace on Israel for bringing the war in Gaza to an end.

Especially in places like the United States, where structures like pastoral councils are already relatively common, it is important to hear the synod’s call to ensure that consultation and dialogue are effective and not merely nominal.

The Editors: “Rather than a claim to know conscience’s demands for everyone, it is a challenge for voters to engage in deeper reflection, prayer and dialogue.”