General
Plenary Message to Holy Father
Message to the Holy Father USCCB Plenary Assembly – June 2026
This document is a formal message from the bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), gathered in plenary assembly in Orlando, to Pope Leo XIV during the first year of his papacy.
In the letter, the bishops express their communion with the Holy Father, assure him of their prayers, and join him in calling for peace in global conflict zones including Iran, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan, and Nigeria. They thank the Pope for his first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, particularly its reflections on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and the dignity of the human person.
The bishops also address key challenges facing the Church in the United States—such as secularism, family life, youth formation, vocations, the protection of life, and immigration reform—while reaffirming their commitment to Catholic education and the Gospel. The message concludes with the consecration of the Church in the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a prayer for renewed faith, charity, and hope.