June 27, 2025

At a time when our world seems to be in a constant state of unrest, Pope Leo XIV’s recent Angelus appeal resonates deeply with the work of male religious and our dedication to justice and peace. The Holy Father reminds us that war does not solve conflict; rather, it amplifies it. May we align our prayers and efforts with the Holy Father's message.

“Today more than ever, humanity cries out and pleads for peace." (Pope Leo XIV)

CMSM has a compilation of JPIC resources available for JPIC coordinators or leaders of communities in the Member Content area of our website. If you are interested in gaining access to these resources, please email David Rohrer Budiash (drohrerbudiash@cmsm.org) for instructions on how to sign up.

Letter to Congress Regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

In May 2025, Archbishop Gudziak, Bishop O’Connell, Bishop Rhoades, Bishop Seitz, Bishop Thomas, and Bishop Barron wrote a letter to Congress regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The letter expresses support for family-friendly provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” such as expanded child tax credits and adoption support, but raises serious concerns about elements that harm the poor and vulnerable. They oppose proposed cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and health coverage, while criticizing tax breaks for the wealthy and immigration restrictions that hurt families. They also object to funding for abortion providers and cuts to environmental programs. The bishops urge Congress to revise the bill to better uphold human dignity, protect the poor, and promote the common good.

Read the letter here. Take action here.

“Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour,” says Archbishop Broglio

In response to the recent surge in immigration enforcement efforts, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), released a reflection on behalf of the bishops of the United States. In his reflection, he acknowledged that we cannot ignore the anxiety and fear being caused by the recent immigration efforts.

“As your shepherds, your fear echoes in our hearts and we make your pain our own. Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour." (Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB)

Read the reflection here.

CMSM Member Responses & Partner Resources

CMSM is gathering member responses and statements on recent changes to U.S. immigration policy. Click here to view the collection. If your community has issued a statement, please email it to Greta David, CMSM Director of Communications, to have it added to the site.

In addition to member statements, we have also linked resources from various partners. Once again, if your community has created a resource, please share it with us.

Pope Leo XIV after US bombings in Iran: ‘humanity cries out and pleads for peace’

During the Angelus on Corpus Christi, Pope Leo XIV reacted to what he called the “alarming news” of U.S. airstrikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. In his address, Pope Leo XIV said, “War does not solve problems — on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of nations that take generations to heal.” 

Read more here.

Pope: Resist the 'temptation' of embracing weapons

During his General Audience on June 18, Pope Leo XIV said that the world must resist the allure of modern weapons. He said, “We must not become accustomed to war. Rather, we must push against the allure of powerful and sophisticated weapons as temptation.” Pope Leo's message came a few days after he expressed deep concern over the "seriously deteriorating" situation in the Middle East. 

Read more here.

Political leaders must fix wealth gap, promote religious freedom, Pope says

On June 21 at the Vatican's Jubilee of Governments, Pope Leo XIV challenged global leaders to tackle wealth inequality and uphold religious freedom. He condemned the “unacceptable disproportion” between the rich and the poor, urging fair resource distribution as a pathway to peace. In his remarks, Pope Leo XIV said they have a “responsibility to promote and protect, independent of any special interest, the good of the community, the common good, particularly by defending the vulnerable and the marginalized.”

Read more here.

Juneteenth with Bishop Joseph N. Perry

On June 19, the U.S. commemorated Juneteenth. To mark the occasion, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reshared a video of Bishop Joseph Perry, Chairman of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs, discussing the significance of Juneteenth. 

Watch the video here.

Bishop Seitz: Solidarity with refugees, migrants a ‘living testimony of the Gospel’

Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, issued a statement on World Refugee Day (June 20). In his statement, he said, “In their journey, refugees embody the hope we are called to share as Christians. As we welcome them, we reflect on our own pilgrimage toward the eternal home promised to us.” Bishop Seitz’s statement echoed a statement that Archbishop Broglio, President of the USCCB, released on June 16. 

Read more here. 

2025 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Love in Action

• October 18-20, 2025, in Washington, DC
• More information is available here.

Contact CMSM JPIC

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

Visit us online: cmsm.org/justiceandpeace