Pope Leo to give video message to National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as it concludes in Philadelphia July 5
The historic journey through most of the original 13 colonies during the nation’s 250th anniversary has aimed to bring spiritual renewal and inspire deeper devotion to the Eucharist.
As the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage comes to a close this Fourth of July weekend after weeks of travel and praying for spiritual renewal during the country’s 250th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV is set to give a special video message to pilgrims, virtual participants, and the Church in the U.S.
According to a June 29 press release from the pilgrimage, Pope Leo will give the message July 5 at the beginning of the closing Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and Eucharistic procession in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Archbishop Nelson Pérez of Philadelphia said in the release that as the pilgrimage concludes, his archdiocese is “deeply grateful that the Holy Father will speak to the faithful gathered here, in the City of Saints, and to those joining around the world, reminding us that Christ in the Eucharist is the source of our unity and the heart of the Church’s mission.”
This year, under the theme “One Nation Under God,” the pilgrimage began May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida, and has since journeyed along the East Coast through many of the original 13 colonies. Nine Catholic young adults, called the perpetual pilgrims, have accompanied Christ in the Eucharist throughout the whole journey, which has included processions in cities and towns along the way. According to the release, the final events of the pilgrimage will include a Eucharistic procession from the tomb of St. Katharine Drexel to the shrine of St. John Neumann. The release noted that St. Drexel is the first native-born U.S. citizen to be canonized and St. Neumann is the first American bishop to be canonized.
The release stated that the Pope’s message “will celebrate the legacy of Catholicism in the country and invite renewed unity through the Eucharist.” It will be livestreamed on EWTN’s YouTube channel, as well as EWTN streaming apps and on linear broadcast. The video message will also be added to the National Eucharistic Congress’ Manna app.
Archbishop Pérez also commented in the release that the Pope’s words “will be a profound gift to the Church in the United States and to all who seek peace, unity, and hope.”
National Eucharistic Congress President Jason Shanks spoke similarly in the release, encouraging people to attend the Mass in person and hear “a message that will reverberate far beyond the walls of the gathering and echo across the nation for years to come.”
The pilgrimage, Shanks said, “is a public invitation to encounter Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and to carry His presence into the life of our nation. To receive a message from Pope Leo XIV at the culmination of this journey, as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, is more than a landmark moment – it is a call to renewal for the Church in our country.”
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
