Catholics in the audience may not have been as startled by Senator Vance’s emphatic, sympathetic invocation of the second response of the Kyrie eleison.

The wide-ranging debate between Mr. Vance and Mr. Walz covered climate climate change, immigration, abortion, the economy and the state of democracy, among other issues.

The challenge for Americans in a turbulent, anxiety-producing and, at times, dangerous world is to remain vigilant while keeping despair at bay.

Cardinal Dolan of New York still held out hope that the Democratic nominee could change her plans and join the event which her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, is now planning to attend.

A number of states will vote on expanding or maintaining access to abortion this November, but voters in Arizona will also weigh in on a ballot initiative restricting immigration.

Vice President Kamala Harris will not attend the Al Smith charity dinner on Oct. 17.