Just as Popes John Paul II’s and Benedict’s final days revealed their understandings of the papacy, Francis’ illness has revealed him once again as the world’s parish priest, suffering close to his people.

The U.S. bishops have been measured in their response to the new administration’s avalanche of activity, reserving sharp criticism on points of divergence while not hesitating to praise him for his actions in areas where they find alignment.

It is no secret that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops receives federal grants to assist in refugee resettlement.

The Catholic Church has its own history of prophetic voices using the moral authority of the priesthood to remind political leaders of the Christian precept of human dignity.

Vice President-elect JD Vance’s wife, Usha, a practicing Hindu, once told him that she believed his 2019 conversion to Catholicism “was good for you.”

To paraphrase E.J. Dionne’s dictum about the Catholic vote, there is no Catholic bloc in Congress, and yet, the Catholic members of the House and Senate matter a great deal.