Voices
Jon M. Sweeney
Jon M. Sweeney is a frequent contributor to America and the author of many books including Francis of Assisi in His Own Words and, for children, The Pope’s Cat series, illustrated by Roy DeLeon.
@jonmsweeney
Articles By Jon M. Sweeney
Arts & Culture Books
A last-minute Christmas gift idea or two
Jon M. SweeneyDecember 06, 2019
Some last-minute gift ideas: books!
Wendell Berry (photo: Guy Mendes)
Arts & Culture Books
On the road with Wendell Berry
Jon M. SweeneyOctober 18, 2019
The natural world is Wendell Berry’s primary teacher: its rhythms, its largesse, its mysteries.
Arts & Culture Books
Popes in fiction: What do they say about us?
Jon M. SweeneyFebruary 11, 2019
When it comes to writing fiction about the papacy, we imagine the popes we want—most of the time.
Arts & Culture Books
Pope Francis gets a cartoon treatment
Jon M. SweeneyMay 04, 2018
A graphic novel about Pope Francis.
Arts & Culture Books
What Christians can learn from new books on Judaism
Jon M. SweeneyApril 24, 2018
Every Christian needs a better understanding of the Jewish origins of his or her faith.
Faith Features
Who will be the next Billy Graham?
Jon M. SweeneyMarch 05, 2018
People have been asking this question for decades.
Politics & Society Features
How Billy Graham shaped American Catholicism
Jon M. SweeneyFebruary 21, 2018
Remembering Billy Graham’s relationships with presidents, priests and popes.
Arts & Culture Books
Looking for good Christmas presents? Try these books
Jon M. SweeneyDecember 01, 2017
Every now and then, one comes across a book that seems unique. Its authors, editors and publisher are not so much meeting an already-expressed need as they are anticipating (or creating) one.
Black Elk as a Catholic teacher and as a Lakota leader. (Left photo: Marquette University Archives, Bureau of Catholic Indian Mission Records, ID 00559; right photo: Marquette University Archives, Bureau of Catholic Indian Mission Records, ID 01287/Ben Hunt)
Faith Features
Black Elk, the Lakota medicine man turned Catholic teacher, is promoted for sainthood
Jon M. SweeneyOctober 01, 2017
Sainthood for Black Elk could help the inclusion of indigenous Americans within the Catholic Church, but it also raises questions about the church's role in erasing Lakota culture.
Ivan Kramskoy Painting a Portrait of his Daughter
Arts & Culture Books
Telling Lives: The confusing business of biography
Jon M. SweeneyJune 02, 2017
Jon Sweeney reviews "Lessons in Hope: My Life with John Paul II," "Milosz: A Biography," and "This Long Pursuit: Reflections of a Romantic Biographer."