The election of the first American pope last year is a remarkable moment in the history of both the Catholic Church and the United States. But it symbolised something far deeper than national pride. It reflects a relationship between America and Catholicism that has been developing since the birth of our republic.
For Catholics around the world, the selection of an American pope underscores the vitality of the Church in the United States. For Americans, it is a reminder that the Catholic faith – once viewed with suspicion in this country – has become inseparable from the American story.
