Urging bishops to proclaim hope, defend human dignity and strengthen the Church's missionary witness, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the apostolic nuncio to the United States addressed the USCCB's Spring Plenary Assembly, held June 10-12 in Orlando, Florida.
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, whom Pope Leo XIV appointed apostolic nuncio to the United States March 7, said in a live stream that he was "honored and deeply humbled" by the appointment. Having accepted the mission "with both joy and a sense of trepidation,” he added that he remains confident in the Holy Father's support and guidance.
Echoing the call to faithful leadership and trust in God's guidance, USCCB President Archbishop Paul Coakley urged bishops to embrace their mission with renewed confidence.
He said bishops are called to bring hope to a world facing significant cultural and technological challenges as he reflected on Christ's command to "put out into the deep."
"In a time,” he said, “when so many are wondering what it even means to be a human person... the truth of the Church must be proclaimed all the more confidently.”
Similar concerns appeared in Archbishop Caccia's remarks, where he reflected on the "new frontier" of emerging technologies and said efforts to save the human person "must come from a new Christian humanism rooted in Christ who reveals the human person to himself and teaches us the path of love."
The election of Pope Leo XIV also featured prominently in both addresses. Archbishop Coakley pointed to the Holy Father as a source of hope for Catholics, recalling that his first public words as pontiff were Christ's greeting, “Peace be with you.”
Archbishop Caccia likewise described Pope Leo's election as "a gift from the Holy Spirit" for the Church in the United States. He added that the Church is “at once holy and always in need of being purified," calling bishops to continue offering a credible witness to the Gospel.
He also reflected on the USCCB's June 11 consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, describing it as a "spiritual center" to the assembly. He said the consecration serves as a reminder that the Church's ministry must begin with Christ and from His heart, "which is the source of peace.”
Both church leaders also emphasized the dignity of the human person. Archbishop Coakley highlighted the defense of human life as a central responsibility of the Church, particularly for the unborn, elderly and sick.
"Life, human life,” Archbishop Coakley said, “can never be adequately valued based on its being useful, or useless, or a burden.”
He further encouraged Catholics to resist polarization and “place faith before politics” while pursuing the common good.
Pointing to reports of record numbers entering the Catholic faith in recent months, Archbishop Coakley said the Church must be prepared to meet those searching for meaning and hope with the message of the Gospel.
"We know that it is Christ who draws people to himself,” he said. “We need to be his voice.”