Justice and Peace

Mission & Identity

"The Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice."

- Pope BenedictXVI

The Secretariat of Justice and Peace promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching and opportunities to live the Baptismal call to love God and neighbor.

The work of the Secretariat of Justice and Peace is guided by the Committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development, International Justice and Peace, and Religious Liberty, and the Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation. 

The Secretariat shares the Good News of the Gospel to inspire prayer, learning and advocacy in support of poor and vulnerable persons and communities, in the U.S. and abroad.

Working On The Margins In The United States

Joint Letter to Congress on Agriculture Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2027
Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. Sean Callahan, Mr. James Ennis, and Mr. John Berry, April 28, 2026

2025 Labor Day Statement I 2025 Declaración del Día del Trabajo
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, September 1, 2025

Letter to Congress Regarding Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. John Berry, August 8, 2025

Letter to Congress Regarding FY 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. Sean Callahan, Mr. James Ennis, and Mr. John Berry, July 30, 2025

 More United States Issues

Working On The Margins Internationally

As U.S. Seeks a Negotiated End to War in Iran, Bishop Zaidan Calls for Peace and Humanitarian Assistance for Lebanon
April 9, 2026

Letter to Bishop Kussala Expressing Solidarity with the Church in South Sudan
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, March 10, 2026

Brothers and Sisters in Hope: International Assistance and Mutual Solidarity between the Bishops and Faithful of the United States and Africa
A Joint Statement of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Justice, Peace and Development Commission of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), February 2, 2026

Communiqué of the Holy Land Co-ordination
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan and Bishop Joseph Kopacz, January 17-21, 2026

International Issues

Resources

Resources and Tools to Learn, Reflect, and Act
We are called as missionary disciples to bear witness in the world. The Secretariat of Justice and Peace has numerous resources in English and Spanish to help Catholics engage in the Church’s social mission. Visit the Resources and Tools page and the Fe en Acción page today and take advantage of the numerous resources available to put your faith in action.

The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Call to Love and Transform 
What do the Eucharistic Revival, the U.S. bishops’ 2021 statement on the Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, and our Catholic social mission have in common? All form and send missionary disciples to transform our communities in God’s vision of love and justice. Read a new short reflection, The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Call to Love and Transform, which can help communities pray, reflect, and discern how to respond to Christ’s call to love one another. The reflection is also available in Spanish.

Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics
Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics is a response to Pope Francis’ invitation to model “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 154). Commit to seeking the truth, building bridges, and finding solutions together that promote the common good. Individuals, families, and communities can participate. Take the pledge today!

CST101 Videos and Educational Materials | en Español
CST 101 collaborative 7-part video and discussion guide series presented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic Social Teaching. The videos bring the themes of Catholic social teaching to life and inspire us to put our faith into action. Some suggested uses of the videos and discussion guides include adult faith formation settings, high school theology classes, in lay ministry formation, and to prepare groups for service trips. The series also includes downloadable posters and handouts for adults and kids, in English and Spanish. The artwork featured in the videos and accompanying videos are courtesy of Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS.

Environment
Learn more about God's gift of creation and the Church's teaching on the environment with our new resources.

Pope Francis' Social Teaching
These quotes from Pope Francis are an example of his teaching on poverty, economic justice, care for creation, human rights, and other issues. | en Español

The letters to Congress included on this page are courtesy of the Office of Government Relations.