Papal conclaves have a history of surprises – is another one coming?
History shows us that plenty of surprises have happened in past papal elections. As we watch for the white smoke above the Vatican, let us pray that the next leader will have the wisdom and guidance necessary to lead the world’s largest group of Christians through the crises that will inevitably mark his pontificate.
Not every story wants to be told – and that’s okay
I suggest that when we encounter a silent story, we needn’t automatically view it as an omission to be mourned or reclaimed but can see it as telling in and of itself, brimming with meaning.
Weekly religion news roundup (April 25-May 1, 2025)
Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.
A dressin’ up room: An African American eschatology
In the Black church tradition, songs like “A Dressin’ Up Room” become theological texts in their own right — oral expressions of an eschatology that is not escapist but liberative. They echo the teachings of elders and ancestors who understood that God is not only waiting for us at the gates of glory but walking with us through the valleys of this life.
Finding the goodness of God wherever we are
Maybe God is calling us into the streets, out on the plains, down by the lakes, or even at the borders that exist in our communities, where we can gather and proclaim that God is present, with us, now.