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A man in brocaded vestments waves with both his hands while some others dressed in red shoulder capes over white robes smile.

Pope Leo XIV: Why the College of Cardinals chose the Chicago native and Augustinian to lead the church after Francis

Joanne M. Pierce, College of the Holy Cross

A man, dressed in brocaded vestments, stands with his arms folded and smiles gently.

Pope Leo XIV faces limits on changing the Catholic Church − but Francis made reforms that set the stage for larger changes

Dennis Doyle, University of Dayton

From the moment he steps onto the balcony, each pope signals his style of leadership – here’s how Pope Leo XIV’s appearance compares with Pope Francis’ first

Daniel Speed Thompson, University of Dayton

A man in a white skullcap, short red cape and white robe waves to a vast crowd outside.
Even with Pope Leo XIV in place, US Catholics stand ‘at a crossroads’

Maureen K. Day, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Large tapestries of men and women in prayer hang on the wall of a church as people stand in the pews.
Why ‘The Calling of Saint Matthew’ by Caravaggio was Pope Francis’ favorite painting − an art historian explains

Virginia Raguin, College of the Holy Cross

A large painting is on a wall of a dome-shaped hall, which has several frescoes adorning other walls.
From pulpit to pitch: Pope Francis used sport to get his message to a wider world − that could continue with baseball-loving Leo XIV

Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, Catholic Theological Union

A giant screen shows the image of the pope above a stadium packed with supporters
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The Legacy of Pope Francis

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A Muslim cleric and a Christian priest place candles in front of the portrait of Pope Francis

Pope Francis encouraged Christian-Muslim dialogue and helped break down stereotypes

Craig Considine, Rice University

Pope Francis danced the tango with the global Catholic Church amid its culture wars

David M. Lantigua, University of Notre Dame

A woman in an orange jacket and a man in a black suit dance in a cobblestone plaza.
How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave

Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross

Several men in a red robe and red cap stand attend Mass.
Francis − a pope who cared deeply for the poor and opened up the Catholic Church

Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross

Pope Francis, dressed in white priestly garments, raises his hand to wave to people.
Who’s who at the Vatican?

Daniel Speed Thompson, University of Dayton

A huge, ornately decorated cathedral with many rows of people in white outfits sitting in the middle.

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Superheroes, comics and religion

A statue of Spider-Man, positioned by a large window in a high-rise, shows him poised to jump as people walk below.

Spider-Man’s lessons for us all on the responsibility to use our power, great or small, to do good

George Tsakiridis, South Dakota State University

See you in the funny papers: How superhero comics tell the story of Jewish America

Miriam Eve Mora, University of Michigan

A large sign depicts a man in a tight blue suit and red cape.
For superfans, comic-con culture is more than fun – it’s sacred, a sociologist explains

Michael Elliott, Towson University

A woman in a white outfit with huge blue wings attached to her poses in a large convention atrium.
How Japanese anime draws on religious traditions to explore themes of destiny, sacrifice and the struggle between desire and duty

Ronald S. Green, Coastal Carolina University

A cartoon sketch of a young man with long, bright yellow hair streaked with red, resembling flames. He has black, forked eyebrows and golden eyes with red and white pupils.
Luce, a cartoon mascot for Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee, appeals to a younger generation while embracing time-honored traditions

Virginia Raguin, College of the Holy Cross

An inflatable cartoon depicts a girl wearing rosary beads with a crucifix, and scallop shells in her eyes.
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Ancient texts

What the ancient Indian text Bhagavad Gita can teach about not putting too much of our identity and emotions into work

Robert J. Stephens, Clemson University

A colorful painting showing a carriage being drawn by two white horses, with the charioteer holding a conch shell and a warrior prince seated at the back, with a bow and arrows.
What is the ‘way of the warrior’? Students investigate the arts of war and peace in this course about virtue and the ethics of violence

Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, Hamilton College

A brightly colored illustation of two men fighting with swords on a beach as a crowd of people look on.
Ancient texts depict all kinds of people, not just straight and cis ones – this college course looks at LGBTQ sexuality and gender in Egypt, Greece and Rome

Tina Chronopoulos, Binghamton University, State University of New York

A faded mural depicting two men looking into each other's eyes with their faces very close to each other.
3 things to learn about patience − and impatience − from al-Ghazali, a medieval Islamic scholar

Liz Bucar, Northeastern University

A yellowed page of a book cover with Persian inscriptions and a design with concentric circles set in the middle of two rectangular bars with intricate art.
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Mother's Day

Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day

Megan Bryson, University of Tennessee

Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day
From Kali to Mary to Neopagan goddesses, religions revere motherhood in sometimes unexpected ways

Alyssa Beall, West Virginia University

A brightly colored teal statue of a woman with many arms and legs displayed against a bright-red wall.
Mothers’ lives in ancient Greece were not easy – but celebrations of their love have survived across the centuries

Joel Christensen, Brandeis University

A carved relief shows two women looking at a baby that one of them is holding.
Judaism’s rituals to honor new mothers are ever-rooted, ever-changing – from medieval embroidery and prayer to new traditions today

Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, Brandeis University

A woman wearing earrings and a blue skullcap holds a baby in a yellow outfit and yellow headband.
Read more about Mother's Day

Native American Traditions

A black and white photo of marchers in warm weather passing a building with a high dome.

Activism on foot: When Indigenous activists walk the land to honor their past and reshape their future

Meaghan Weatherdon, University of San Diego

Unthanksgiving Day: A celebration of Indigenous resistance to colonialism, held yearly at Alcatraz

Shannon Toll, University of Dayton

Several people, some in traditional Native American attire, gather outside a building whose sign says - United States Penitentiary.
The story of Ohio’s ancient Native complex and its long journey for recognition as a World Heritage site

Stephen Warren, University of Iowa

A park ground with a serpent-shaped mound.
Maria Tallchief made the ballet world reimagine itself and find a place for a Native American prima ballerina

Shannon Toll, University of Dayton

A ballet dancer taking a leap with her toes pointed outward and arms raised.
Indigenous languages make inroads into public schools

Mneesha Gellman, Emerson College

A teacher writes some words in an Indigenous language on a white board while a student looks.

Read more on Native American Traditions

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