Dear Friends in the Jewish Faith Community, Together with the people of the Catholic Church of Philadelphia, I extend warm greetings as you celebrate the holy days of Passover. In these times of domestic uncertainty and ongoing violence abroad, particularly in the Holy Land, the eight-day commemoration of Pesach is a powerful reminder of the […]

“With great joy, I learned that Pope Francis appointed Most Reverend Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R. as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Providence! He is well known to me and to the people of the Church of Philadelphia as a priest of boundless dedication and great compassion for the souls entrusted to his pastoral care. […]

Dear Friends of the Muslim Faith Tradition, Together with the people of the Catholic Church in Philadelphia, I send warm greetings of friendship as you mark the observance of Ramadan. In 2019, the “Document on Human Fraternity” signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, stated “that authentic teachings of religions […]

I call for everyone throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to join in prayer for Pope Francis as he continues to battle serious illness. Let us keep the Holy Father close to our hearts and ask God to strengthen him.  The following is a suggested petition for the Universal Prayer for Mass for Sunday and the next several […]

My heart sank when I learned that an aircraft crashed at Cottman Avenue and the Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia tonight. This shocking tragedy comes with great loss, pain, and anxiety for the families of the crew and passengers as well as neighborhood residents and business owners whose evening was shattered with sudden violence. We […]

Muchos de los desafíos involucrados con la inmigración han estado al frente de la conciencia local y nacional en los últimos días. Con tristeza, he sido testigo de una amplia variedad de reacciones a este tema marcado por una ansiedad intensificada, miedo, ira y polarización. Como católicos, discernimos asuntos de inmigración guiados por corazones en […]

Many of the challenges involved with immigration have been at the forefront of local and national consciousness over the past several days. With sadness, I have witnessed a broad variety of reactions to this topic marked by heightened anxiety, fear, anger, and polarization. As Catholics, we discern immigration matters guided by prayerful hearts in a […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Asian Catholic Community, I extend warm greetings and prayerful best wishes as you mark the beginning of the Lunar New Year. This joyous occasion marks the Year of the Snake, a traditional symbol of wisdom, elegance, and transformation. This particular Lunar New Year also coincides with the Universal Church’s […]

The horrific destruction and loss of life wrought by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County have saddened the hearts of people throughout the nation. Many of us feel powerless to ease the suffering of our brothers and sisters facing disaster. Yet, we can stand united in prayer and in solidarity to aid the ongoing […]

In a recent Pastoral Letter, the Archbishop invited all Catholics in the region to make their voices heard as part of an initiative to reinvigorate the Church in our area.