
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, takes questions from the stage at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington. With him is Paula Gwynn Grant, secretary for communications for the Archdiocese of Washington, who moderated the discussion.
WASHINGTON — There was acknowledgement at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering here that the next four years might prove more challenging for the church to advance its efforts to serve the poor, promote the common good and protect the environment.
Several speakers raised concerns about shifts in federal priorities that may present new obstacles to serving low-income communities and migrants and to promoting Catholic social teaching. Nevertheless, they expressed confidence that Catholic institutions and advocates can stand together as "Missionaries of Hope, Advocates for Justice" — the theme of the gathering — during the church's 2025 Jubilee year.
At a welcome reception, John Berry, national president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, noted that along with the promise of new beginnings, the new year comes with changes and challenges so stunning they can make people wonder "if the world has lost its mind."
Berry mentioned the March for Life that had brought thousands of pro-life activists to the streets of Washington the day before to advocate for the sanctity of life. "Politicians came out and spoke to them and had their pictures taken with them and then went right back up the marble steps of the Capitol and continued to plan how to cut billions of dollars of aid to the babies that are born to the poor and homeless," he said.

Attendees greet each other during a Mass on the first day of the four-day gathering. Photo courtesy: Secretariat of Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
He later added: "The work of every ministry represented here is a vital lifeline for countless people in need, individuals and families, often standing at the brink of despair, searching for a glimmer of hope, and we must not fail, not in our resolve, not in our compassion, and not in our duty to act."
The conference Jan. 25-28 drew 526 people from more than 40 states. The gathering included addresses, educational sessions and training on advocating on Capitol Hill for social justice and peace.
It was organized by the Secretariat of Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 10 USCCB departments, and 20 national Catholic organizations, including CHA.
Call for courage
In his keynote address at the start of the gathering, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, shared a message from Pope Francis urging those attending to "have the courage to continue to be pilgrims of hope as your ancestors were."
The message tied the theme of the church's 2025 Jubilee celebration — Pilgrims of Hope — to the gathering. The pontiff conveyed his wish that the gathering "will become a sign of unity, to build bridges of reconciliation, inclusion and fraternity.
"You can achieve it, because I know that each one of you works very hard to recognize Jesus Christ in those most in need, the excluded, the discarded, the poor, the migrants," Pope Francis wrote.

Lucas Swanepoel, CHA's senior director of government relations, discusses the association's vision for an improved health care system at a breakfast gathering. Photo courtesy: Secretariat of Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Later in his address, Cardinal Pierre said Christians are called on to be prophets. The cardinal said Christians convey their prophetic message through social ministry and through political involvement. He said that Christians' political action must "reject the narrow self-interest and political gamesmanship that is too often displayed by our leaders."
He specifically denounced "political messiahs" who claim to identify with those who are exhausted and confused. "But in response to people's desire for clarity, such leaders propose simplistic and polarizing solutions that do nothing to help a society discern together a pathway to the common good," Cardinal Pierre said.
The cardinal said that for Christians, politics are "one of the highest forms of charity" and their political focus is on society's most vulnerable. "A people who takes care of the weakest among them is a people who experiences closeness to God," he said.
Lamenting a throwaway culture
In another keynote address, Bishop Joseph J. Tyson of Yakima, Washington, discussed the lack of empathy for the plight of refugees and the lack of concern for the environment among some Americans. He mentioned recent raids by federal immigration agents in his diocese, where many migrants work as fruit pickers.
Bishop Tyson cited remarks from Pope Francis in 2019 about how migrants, refugees, the poor and working-class people have been cast aside.
"We focus on what we want," Bishop Tyson said. "We focus on the end result and the product. But we throw away everything around the product — the people and the environment. They are discarded as nothing more than packaging."
He ended his address encouraging his audience to beg God for open hearts. He then led the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, which starts: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace."

Meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill were part of the gathering's final day. Photo courtesy: Secretariat of Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Threats from polarization
Lucas Swanepoel, CHA's senior director of government relations, spoke at a breakfast gathering about the association's vision for an improved health care system. He said that system would provide care for all, enhance the health and well-being of communities, and strengthen the Catholic identity of church ministries and allow them to thrive.
He discussed the organization's advocacy work to advance the common good through improved and expanded health care. He specifically noted CHA's successful support in recent times for expanding Medicaid postpartum coverage to a year instead of 30 days. He also noted that last year Catholic health systems provided $15 billion in community benefit programs.
Even amid all the successes and community-minded work, Swanepoel said political polarization is threatening CHA's push to make quality health care more sustainable and accessible for everyone, as it is threatening other efforts to care for those on the margins. "It is impacting everything we do, and health care is no different," he noted.
On the final day of the gathering, many attendees visited Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to back domestic and international programs that support low-income families. In addition, the advocates called on Congress to support Medicaid, protect the environment, and keep immigrant families together.
» Quick takes from sessions of Catholic Social Ministry Gathering