A Shepherd's Message - July 14, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

On July 4, 2026, our country celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This milestone calls us to give thanks to God for this gift of our nation. 

This great nation was founded on a cry for freedom and liberty for all peoples. In honor of this occasion, I share the words of recent popes to reflect on the beauty of the United States as well as point to the areas that still need attention.   

In a homily given by St. John Paul II on Oct. 3, 1979, during a Mass at Logan Circle in Philadelphia, the Holy Father said: 

“Philadelphia is the city of the Declaration of Independence, that remarkable document, containing a solemn attestation of the equality of all human beings, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, expressing a ‘firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.’” He goes on to exhort us as citizens: “you must strive to preserve these human values, to understand them better and to define their consequences for the whole community, and as a worthy contribution to the world.” 

Nearly three decades later, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the many ways the Catholic faithful have helped shape our nation. 
In an address to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on April 16, 2008, he said: 

“Today the Catholic community you serve is one of the largest in the world, and one of the most influential. How important it is, then, to let your light so shine before your fellow citizens and before the world, ‘that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven’ (Mt 5:16).” He continued, “From the beginning [of this nation, your fellow countrymen] have opened their doors to the tired, the poor, the ‘huddled masses yearning to breathe free’ (cf. Sonnet inscribed on the Statue of Liberty). These are the people whom America has made her own.”

The Holy Father further explained and spoke of the generosity that has long characterized the people of this country. He said: 

“[The people of this country] are also known for their generosity… Let me express my particular appreciation for the many forms of humanitarian assistance provided by American Catholics through Catholic Charities and other agencies. Their generosity has borne fruit in the care shown to the poor and needy, and in the energy that has gone into building the nationwide network of Catholic parishes, hospitals, schools and universities. All of this gives great cause for thanksgiving.”

When Pope Francis addressed Congress on Sept. 24, 2015, he highlighted the importance of working together for the common good. 

“The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States,” he said. “In this land, the various religious denominations have greatly contributed to building and strengthening society. It is important that today, as in the past, the voice of faith continues to be heard, for it is a voice of fraternity and love, which tries to bring out the best in each person and in each society. Such cooperation is a powerful resource in the battle to eliminate new global forms of slavery, born of grave injustices which can be overcome only through new policies and new forms of social consensus.”

The Holy Father called us to live up to the high ideals that founded this nation.

Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, on July 4, 2026, wrote in a letter to Americans as we celebrated the 250th birthday of this nation: 

“Among the most cherished of these principles [of the United States] is religious freedom — the right of every person to worship according to conscience and to practice their faith openly, without coercion or fear. In marking this anniversary, it is important to recognize that freedom of religion has long been central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people.” 

The recent popes have shown admiration for the United States of America, especially the central principles of freedom, equality, human dignity, as well as the generosity of the citizens. 

The successors of Peter also emphasize how these attributes call us to action. We must ensure that these principles are actualized for every resident of this nation by caring for others.

In this spirit, on June 11, 2026, the Bishops of the United States consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, Maryland, in his homily during the Mass of Consecration, encouraged the faithful to approach this celebration, not just as time to remember the past, but a renewal in true Christian charity.  

“Jesus tells us: ‘This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.’ To love as Christ loves is the true measure of Christian discipleship and the true measure of our humanity. Yet if we are honest, we must acknowledge that neither our nation nor the Church has always clearly reflected that love— indeed, it is sometimes obscured almost beyond recognition. To be sure, there have been moments of extraordinary witness and holiness. But there have also been moments of failure, division, and sin. Consecration requires the humility to acknowledge both. We cannot come to the Heart of Christ while pretending we have no need of His mercy. To consecrate ourselves and our nation is to place our wounds, our shortcomings, and our sins before the One whose love is greater than all of them.” 

Archbishop Lori continued by explaining how the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus sends us forth: 

“[Consecration] is not merely about remembering the past. It is about accepting responsibility for the future. To consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart means remaining in Christ’s love and carrying that love into the world. It means building communities – ecclesial and civil – where truth is proclaimed clearly and charity is practiced generously. It means resisting the temptation to define ourselves by division, ideology, or resentment. The Sacred Heart does not divide; it reconciles. It does not harden hearts; it transforms them. It does not simply invite us to receive love; it sends us forth to share it.”

Finally, Archbishop Lori concluded by inviting us to entrust the future of our Church and country to the Heart of Jesus. 

“As we approach this great anniversary of our nation, we may be tempted towards nostalgia for the past or anxiety about the future,” he said. “Today we choose something better: trust. Today we place the Church in the United States, and this nation we love, into the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Not because we have everything figured out, but because we know the One whose love endures forever. In his Heart, we find gratitude for the past, strength for the present, and hope for the future.”

As we continue to celebrate this milestone, Archbishop Lori's words teach us how to respond to the beauty and challenges of our country. We are called to love our brothers and sisters as Christ does. 

When we do this, then we will contribute to a greater realization of the American principles that have made us a great nation.