Pope Francis met with comedians to discuss the importance of humor, specifically as a tool for unity in the face of darkness and conflict.

Some suggestions from the staff of America for summer reading: books old and new, long and short, funny and sad.

These are films that I find meaningful and believe resonate with our faith—particularly our call to love our L.G.B.T.Q. siblings and to uphold their human dignity.

A Reflection for the Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, by Michael Simone, S.J.

A Reflection for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, by Zac Davis

Pope Francis reportedly used a homophobic slur to refer to a gay culture in the Vatican and warned it would not be prudent to admit young men with homosexual tendencies to seminaries.

Michael R. Lovell had been battling sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, for three years. He died June 9 in Italy while on a Jesuit formation pilgrimage with members of the Society of Jesus and the Jesuit university’s board of trustees.

Do you have to believe in God to go to church? I used to think so. But more agnostics should give religion a try.

A Reflection for Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, by Simcha Fisher