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?

When God created us as male and female, it was a more mysterious revelation than we’re usually led to recognize.

In the interview with America, Bishop Francis Quinn said, “I personally think the Spirit is calling [women] to be deacons and priests, but the Spirit hasn’t done it clearly enough to convince the teaching church.”

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.