Shine On: The Gift of Freedom
Before Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical, Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson’s place in the minds of many Americans was simple: founding father, third President, sculpted into Mount Rushmore. After Hamilton… well, let’s just say he’s probably now known more for his flamboyant portrayal. I want to shine a light on one of Jefferson’s …
Pope Leo XIV’s hometown votes to purchase his childhood home
By Amira Abuzeid CNA Staff, Jul 2, 2025 / 17:17 pm In a unanimous vote at a special board meeting held on July 1, the village council of Dolton, Illinois, voted to purchase the childhood home of the first U.S.-born pope, Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Newly-elected Dolton Mayor …
Pope Leo XIV appoints Texan bishop to shepherd the Diocese of Austin
By Kristina Millare Vatican City, Jul 2, 2025 / 13:49 pm Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Daniel Garcia of Monterey, California, as the sixth bishop of Austin, Texas. After leading the Diocese of Monterey for more than six years since 2018, Garcia, 64, has returned to his home state of …
Keeping Our Humanity in the Midst of the AI Revolution
“They’re projecting that AI assistants will be available to consumers within the next ten years. Looks like John and Jane Doe will have personal robots at home.” My brother Brian punctuated this statement with his brow raised in excited curiosity, then took a sip of his coffee. “Personal robots,” I …
Celebrating the Fourth of July
Did you know that there was one Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence? Charles Carroll (September 19, 1737 – November 14, 1832), known as Charles Carroll of Carrollton or Charles Carroll III to distinguish him from his similarly-named relatives, was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of …
Remembering a Gem
On May 29, residents of Maria Stein watched flames tear through their town’s centerpiece. We are encouraged to hear that many of its treasures were salvaged, able to inspire the faithful for years to come. One of the jewels in the region’s crown known as the Land of the Cross-Tipped …
A Place of Beauty
French artist Augustin Frison-Roche said that “Everything beautiful comes from and speaks of God.” Father Jan Schmidt, rector for the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, agrees. And while the structure’s art and architecture offer an awe- inspiring worship space, he wants the faithful to know that its gardens …
Pope Leo XIV seeks to reestablish ‘full visible communion’ with Eastern Orthodox
By Andrés Henríquez ACI Prensa Staff, Jun 30, 2025 / 14:12 pm Pope Leo XIV received members of a delegation from the Eastern Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate in a June 28 audience held at the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican in the context of the June 29 celebration of the solemnity of Sts. …
Jonathan Roumie meets the pope: ‘There was just a kindness on his face’
By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Jul 1, 2025 / 06:00 am When Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in “The Chosen,” heard the news of the election of an American-born pope, he said he wept “because I just never thought I would ever live to see the day.” Two …
Pope Leo XIV appoints new archbishop to lead Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama
By Kristina Millare Vatican City, Jul 1, 2025 / 13:47 pm Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Mark Rivituso, auxiliary of St. Louis, as metropolitan archbishop of Mobile, Alabama. Rivituso succeeds Archbishop Thomas Rodi, who led the Archdiocese of Mobile beginning in 2008. Rodi submitted his resignation letter to Pope Francis …
