Culture

Across the country, basilicas, churches and shrines have begun opening their doors to local pilgrims. These sites each have a unique history and hold significance in their local region, helping Catholics to encounter God in new ways.

By trying to be "all things to all people" — wanting to both affirm murdered missionary John Chau's humanity and criticize the cocktail of motivations that drove him — "Last Days" turns an interesting story tepid.

In his newly released memoir, Hope, the story of the world that made Jorge Mario Bergoglio — and, by extension, the world leader we know as Pope Francis — is a story finally told in his own words. But some details still await more probing biographers.

Amidst the chaos of an industry trying to regain its footing after the strikes of 2023, one fascinating trend that has emerged among popular shows is a focus on pastoral care. Jim McDermott examines the trend using "Ted Lasso," "Shrinking" and "The Pitt" as models.

In Torrent of Grace: A Catholic Survivor's Healing Journey after Clergy Abuse, Mark Joseph Williams contributes to a concerningly limited literary genre in the church: clergy abuse survivor narratives.

In We Burn Daylight, Bret Anthony Johnston tells a fictional story similar to 1993 Waco siege to engage questions about religious freedom, state-sanctioned violence and the blurry line between church and cult.

"Planetwalker" is a documentary about John Francis, an uncommon globetrotter who embarked on a yearslong trek for the environment, with 17 of those years observing a vow of silence.

In A Whole Life in Twelve Movies, authors Kathleen Norris and Gareth Higgins seed fruitful conversation and fulfill the human need for "art that's steeped in the mystery of life."