The aim is to build and promote a different kind of economy: "one that brings life not death, one that is inclusive and not exclusive, humane and not dehumanizing, one that cares for the environment and does not despoil it," the pope said in the letter, released by the Vatican May 11.

A recent report from the Pew Research Center, "In Western European Countries With Church Taxes, Support for the Tradition Remains Strong," finds that in an ever more secular European continent, official financial support for the churches remain constant, whether people attend services or not.

“Will this ombudsperson really be able to provide justice for a community in Guatemala, who has really experienced crimes, including rape, the forced displacement of their community, and murder?”

Entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos talk about being “innovators” and “disrupters,” but really they are not—not in truly world-shaking ways. Imagine if they announced to the world: We are doubling the wages of our warehouse workers, increasing benefits. We are becoming, for God’s sake, a cooperative.

The nation’s nonfiction bard, Michael Lewis, makes the case that our government is more important—and competent—than we realize.