July 16, 2026

As the United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, July invites us to consider freedom not simply as independence, but as responsibility for one another and for the common good. Pope Leo XIV recently observed that the work of embodying “liberty and justice for all” must be taken up anew by every generation. In the words of St. Paul, “For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love” (Galatians 5:13).

May this month renew our commitment to a freedom rooted in human dignity, solidarity, care for creation, and peace.

Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: “Ours to Do”

Registration is open for the Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference, which will take place November 7–9 in Arlington, Virginia. The intergenerational gathering will bring together advocates for formation, prayer, nonviolent communication training, civic engagement, community-building, and meetings with members of Congress. Read more here.

Webinar: Let’s Talk About Energy: Affordability, Clean Energy, and Data Centers

This webinar from the Catholic Climate Covenant will focus on electricity prices and the environmental impact of data centers. Find out more and register here.

Workshop: Trauma-Informed Skills for Ministry

This virtual two-part workshop from Catholic Mobilizing Network will take place on August 11 and 18th. It focuses on trauma-informed approaches to ministry as well as how the ministerial environment can keep the needs of those with trauma in mind. Find out more here.

Pope Leo: America’s Promise Remains a Work in Progress

As he accepted the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center on July 3, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the 250th anniversary of the United States and the nation’s enduring commitments to equality, liberty, and inalienable human rights. He affirmed that human dignity precedes the state and that protecting it is a fundamental purpose of government. The pope also acknowledged that realizing “liberty and justice for all” remains unfinished work, calling each generation to renew the nation’s founding ideals through unity, justice, and peace. Read more here.

Pope Leo Shares a Table with People Experiencing Poverty

During a July 11 lunch at the Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV joined approximately 200 people experiencing poverty and social vulnerability, including refugees and families with children. Speaking of his “hunger for justice” and “hunger for genuine charity,” he called the Church to open its doors to everyone and to help build a society that confronts the causes of poverty and injustice. Their shared table became a sign of encounter and solidarity, pointing toward a Church and world shaped by reconciliation, mutual care, peace, and love. Read more here.

Pope Leo Appoints Salesian Sister to Lead Human Development Dicastery

Pope Leo XIV has named Salesian Sister Alessandra Smerilli prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which coordinates the Church’s work on justice and peace, migration, human rights, healthcare, charitable service, disarmament, and care for creation. An economist who has served as the dicastery’s secretary since 2021, Sister Smerilli will begin her new role on September 1 alongside Cardinal Fabio Baggio, who was appointed pro-prefect. Her appointment places a woman religious at the center of the Vatican’s efforts to respond to the interconnected social, economic, and ecological challenges of our time. Read more here.

Faith Communities Call for Strong Environmental Funding

The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined a coalition of 19 faith organizations in urging congressional appropriators to provide robust funding for federal agencies and programs that protect human health and the environment. The coalition emphasized that climate change and pollution disproportionately harm vulnerable communities, making environmental funding a matter of ecological stewardship, public well-being, and human dignity. Their statement reminds lawmakers that government budgets are moral documents, revealing whose lives and needs a nation chooses to prioritize. Read more here.

Bishop Cahill Urges Protection for Haitian and Syrian Families

Following a court decision allowing the federal government to end Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria, Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, warned that revoking legal protections for people who cannot safely return home creates a profound moral crisis. He urged the administration to use deferred enforced departure to prevent families from being sent into dangerous conditions and called on Congress to respond with moral courage, including through bipartisan efforts to extend protections for Haitians. His statement grounds immigration policy in the God-given dignity of every person and reminds Catholics that indifference to the suffering and displacement of vulnerable families is not an acceptable response. Read more here.

Contact CMSM JPIC

Dr. David Rohrer Budiash, Director of Programs & Managing Editor, Review for Religious

Visit us online: cmsm.org/justiceandpeace