The longtime 'America' illustrator John Hapgood served in World War II in the “Ghost Army,” a unit dedicated to deception and trickery that ran 21 different ersatz military campaigns between D-Day and the surrender of Germany in May 1945.

For James Joyce, humanity’s faulty condition “is happy because faults, errors, mistakes and misunderstandings” are the birth of comedy, writes Gabrielle Carey in a new biography.

Pope Francis met with comedians to discuss the importance of humor, specifically as a tool for unity in the face of darkness and conflict.

“Sister Act” embodies the welcoming spirit of a church willing to go out into the street.

Some suggestions from the staff of America for summer reading: books old and new, long and short, funny and sad.

These are films that I find meaningful and believe resonate with our faith—particularly our call to love our L.G.B.T.Q. siblings and to uphold their human dignity.