Visitors to the America website were intrigued by two figures in 2016: Pope Francis and Donald J. Trump. Combine the two of them, and, well, the lists below speak for themselves. But our readers were interested in more than the election, diving into stories about liturgy, racism, interfaith issues and gender, among others.
Here are the most read articles by America staff and contributors this year:
1. Days Before U.S. Election, Pope Francis Warns Against Politics of Fear
2. Top Ten Takeaways from “Amoris Laetitia”
3. Vatican Announces Commission on Women Deacons
4. Pro Unity and Pro Voice: Catholics in the Era of Trump
5. The Private Faith Life of Hillary Clinton
6. Aboard Plane Home from Mexico, Pope Francis Responds to Questions on Donald Trump
7. What’s So Great about a Jesuit education? Care for the Person
8. Pope Says Nuns Killed in Yemen Are Victims of ‘the Globalization of Indifference’
9. Mike Pence’s Relationship with the Catholic Church Is...Complicated
10. Vatican Denies Changes in the Celebration of Mass
11. New Cardinals Signal a Shift Away from the U.S. Culture Wars
12. Still Separate, Still Unequal: White Catholics and the Perduring Sin of Racism
13. Trump, Clinton, My Jesuit Illuminati Overlords and the Iowa Caucus
14. Pope Francis Says the Church Should Apologize to Gays
15. Advent 2016 Reflection Series
16. U.S. Lutherans Ratify Catholic Interfaith Document
18. This Old Church: Confessions of a Guitar-Mass Catholic
19. Pope Appoints Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell to Head New Vatican Family Office
20. It’s Not a Complement: The Pitfalls of a Gendered Theology of Church
Here is what you shared the most on Facebook:
1. Vatican Announces Commission on Women Deacons
2. Days Before U.S. Election, Pope Francis Warns Against Politics of Fear
3. Aboard Plane Home from Mexico, Pope Francis Responds to Questions on Donald Trump
4. Worth a Fig: Harvesting my Children’s Faith
5. Top Ten Takeaways from “Amoris Laetitia”
6. Pope Francis Says the Church Should Apologize to Gays
7. Pro Unity and Pro Voice: Catholics in the Era of Trump
8. The Private Faith Life of Hillary Clinton
9. Pope Says Nuns Killed in Yemen Are Victims of ‘the Globalization of Indifference’
10. U.S. Lutherans Ratify Catholic Interfaith Document
Here are the America tweets you retweeted the most:
1. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/774978415267119104
He was a beloved priest and 9/11's first official victim. Thousands still gather in NYC to honor Fr. Mychal Judge pic.twitter.com/hg5EtEdz00
— America Magazine (@americamag) September 11, 2016
2. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/800072518635765760
BREAKING | Pope Francis creates 17 new cardinals & has forceful words on inclusion, violence, racism, & refugees. https://t.co/tCXVXHiSLopic.twitter.com/t22AZ8n5Cs
— America Magazine (@americamag) November 19, 2016
3. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/806976310165708800
Exclusive: Martin Scorsese discusses his faith, his struggles, his films and "Silence" with @JamesMartinSJpic.twitter.com/FyyM1MK29X
— America Magazine (@americamag) December 8, 2016
4. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/749361129583960064
"Whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation, take sides." RIP, Elie Wiesel pic.twitter.com/eWD1J4gFUF
— America Magazine (@americamag) July 2, 2016
5. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/807453048104714240
'A Charlie Brown Christmas' aired 51 years ago today. The classic was almost cancelled for being "too religious.” https://t.co/MjrvSvCboepic.twitter.com/XDMv4GtTfe
— America Magazine (@americamag) December 10, 2016
6. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/796412813187182592/photo/1
Dorothy Day was born 119 years ago yesterday. It's worth remembering today where she found hope. pic.twitter.com/yH1ODKZzj0
— America Magazine (@americamag) November 9, 2016
7. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/772436619945181184
St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us. pic.twitter.com/yUiI6TPSCh
— America Magazine (@americamag) September 4, 2016
8. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/709726844585639937
NEWS: Pope Francis will declare Mother Teresa of Calcutta a saint on Sept. 4 in Rome. https://t.co/RmPVwY5AC4pic.twitter.com/Qcg0flYt1p
— America Magazine (@americamag) March 15, 2016
9. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/700369099378061312
Can an American Catholic vote for someone who would break up families and build up walls?https://t.co/X4GtWcNuxEpic.twitter.com/NbuKCHRvbX
— America Magazine (@americamag) February 18, 2016
10. https://twitter.com/americamag/status/771745207935270912/video/1
.@JamesMartinSJ: "Mother Teresa can now be seen as the patron saint of doubters." pic.twitter.com/tdwkjqHskn
— America Magazine (@americamag) September 2, 2016
And here is what you talked about most on the America website:
1. Bishops Respond After Biden Officiates a Same-Sex Marriage
2. Days Before U.S. Election, Pope Francis Warns Against Politics of Fear
3. Poll: Catholics Support Hillary Clinton, Gay Marriage
4. VP Pick Sen. Tim Kaine Seeks to Balance Catholic Faith with Democratic Politics
5. The Election is About More Than Whether a Woman Becomes President
6. Of Many Things: September 12, 2016
7. Some Catholics Say Politics Prevalent in Parishes Ahead of Election
8. Catholic Scholars Duel Over Contraception
9. It’s Not a Complement: The Pitfalls of a Gendered Theology of Church
10. With G.O.P. Ticket Set, Catholic 'Never-Trump' Camp Remains Defiant
RELATED: The Biggest Catholic Stories of 2016