CMSM Items of Note: Justice & Peace Edition

February 19, 2026

As we move through February, the Church invites us to be a people of courageous memory and active solidarity. We are reminded that faith is never abstract but embodied in concrete acts of justice, healing, and accompaniment. “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). From standing with immigrants and honoring Black Catholic witness, to supporting religious serving on the margins and advocating for peace in a fractured world, the Gospel calls us to remember faithfully and act boldly. May this month’s news and stories strengthen our resolve to uphold human dignity, build peace, and care for our common home.

Member Feature

More CMSM Members Call for Dialogue, Dignity, and Protection of Migrants

In a statement released on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the Prior General and U.S. Provincials of the Order of St. Augustine call for an end to violence and for policies that protect human dignity, especially for migrants and the vulnerable. Rooted in Deuteronomy 10:19, “You shall love the stranger, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt,” the letter insists that peace is built on respect for every person and rejects tactics that create fear or erode constitutional protections. Echoing Pope Leo XIV and St. Augustine, the signatories write that there is no one in the human race to whom we do not owe love, calling Catholics to dialogue, solidarity, and just immigration policies that uphold the common good.

The Augustinians join a number of other CMSM communities that have issued statements on migration, available on our website, where religious leaders continue to lift up Gospel-centered advocacy for humane and compassionate reform. We also invite you to read the CMSM statement on migration, issued after the most recent CMSM Assembly.

Event

Season of Faithful Witness Conversation for Religious Congregations

The justice and peace promoters from the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Josephites and the Jesuits, are initiating a conversation on Feb 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET about the Season of Faithful Witness which invites parishes, institutions, and leaders across the country to join a shared framework for prayer, discernment, and public, nonviolent witness from Ash Wednesday through Corpus Christi. The Zoom meeting will be an opportunity to ask questions about the effort, discuss what it looks like for communities to be involved, and support collaboration on the effort.

News

Black History Month: ‘Let Us Be Faithful Stewards of Memory,’ Say Bishops García and Campbell

In a message marking Black History Month, Bishop Daniel E. García and Bishop John H. Campbell call Catholics to become faithful stewards of memory, honoring the enduring faith, resilience, and contributions of Black Catholics throughout US history. They emphasize that remembering this history is not only an act of gratitude but also a moral responsibility to confront racism and address the ongoing wounds of injustice in both Church and society. By lifting up the witness and leadership of Black Catholic communities, the bishops invite the faithful to deeper conversion, renewed solidarity, and sustained commitment to racial justice rooted in the Gospel and the dignity of every person.

Read more here.

What the Year of St. Francis Can Offer a Divided and Wounded World

The Year of St. Francis, recently proclaimed by the Vatican, invites the Church to revisit the enduring witness of the saint of Assisi and the Franciscan charism so many already know well. His embrace of poverty, commitment to peace, and kinship with all creation present a concrete way of living the Gospel today. In a world marked by violence, inequality, and ecological strain, Francis’ simplicity and fraternity speak with renewed clarity to our parishes, schools, and ministries. This year encourages Catholics to deepen that spirit in prayer and translate it into daily choices and public witness for justice, reconciliation, and care for our common home.

Read more here and find the Decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See here.

Pope Leo XIV Warns War Is Among the Gravest Attacks on Life and Health

In an address to participants of the Pontifical Academy for Life’s Plenary Assembly in Rome, Pope Leo XIV underscored that modern wars — especially those that damage civilian infrastructure including hospitals — represent some of the most serious assaults against human life and public health. He highlighted how global conflicts consume immense resources that could otherwise be directed toward promoting accessible and equitable health care for all, and stressed that proclaiming life and health as universal values is hypocritical if structural inequalities persist. Drawing on the principle of “One Health,” the Pope called for a holistic understanding of well-being that integrates environmental, social, and economic factors, and urged renewed commitment to the common good and policies that protect life and dignity for every person.