All the networks—including cable—were ready and willing to report on this first trip of the pope to America.

Pope Francis will see a nation, a people and a culture he has heard much about, but has not known, until now.

Would JFK adhere to traditional practice, whereby Catholics kneel, grasp the pope’s right hand, and kiss the papal ring, which is the physical symbol of the Petrine office?

With all of the issues a modern pope must deal with, it seemed that the matter of how to address a president’s wife was a trivial concern, but it wasn’t.

When Pope John would finally get to meet with President Eisenhower, there would be no doubt that he could regale the former general of the “exploits” of the former army chaplain.

The boy I knew so long ago in grammar and high school had died a martyr, an American hero.

No two men could have been more different: one was a pope and successor of St. Peter, the other, a political science professor turned politician president.

Pope Francis has declared Sept. 1 The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

Not many people would have known who she was, but if you remember a particularly searing image from the tragic time of September 11, 2001, you would.

Jimmy Carter is now about to embark on another journey. It is one which will require everything that he has; but because of faith, he believes he is ready for it.