It’s been a big year for First Things. Our website was completely redesigned, and stories like the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo XIV, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk drove our coverage. Here are the most-read articles First Things published in 2025. If you missed an article, check it out now.
- “He Died with a Microphone in His Hand” by Robert Barron
- “Voyages to the End of the World” by Peter Thiel and Sam Wolfe
- “A Turning Point for America” by R. R. Reno
- “The Epstein Myth” by Matthew Schmitz
- “The Church After Francis” by Charles J. Chaput
- “Francis in Full” by Robert Barron
- “Gen Z Longs for Home” by Eddie LaRow
- “Goodbye ‘Big Eva,’ Hello ‘Gig Eva’” by Carl R. Trueman
- “The Shifting Narrative Around Pornography” by Jonathon Van Maren
- “Tyler Robinson and the Violence of Porn” by Samuel D. James
We’ll bring you more outstanding writing on religion and public life next year—but only with your help. Please consider donating today, and heartfelt thanks to those who already have.
See you in 2026!
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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