“All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
(Isaiah 52:10)

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
For nearly two thousand years, the Good News of Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection has been proclaimed to all the nations. Now more than ever, through modern channels of communication, the message goes out to the ends of the earth for people to hear this Good News and to see the church in their midst serving their Lord in manifold ways.
The following three excerpts have been chosen from different eras in the church’s history to affirm that while the world may be continually in flux, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The following is taken from the profound works of the one who was esteemed as “golden mouth” for his brilliant preaching:
“That invisible and eternal nature has not disdained for our sakes to take to itself the infirmities of our flesh. The Son of God, who is the God of all things, is born a man in body. He permits himself to be placed in a crib, who holds the heavens in his hands. He is confined in a manger whom the world cannot contain; he is heard in the voice of a wailing infant, at whose voice in the hour of his passion the whole earth trembled.” – St. John Chrysostom, Epiphany Homily

This fourth-century saint was exiled three times and suffered immensely at the hands of the Arian heretics of his day. He not only persevered; he thrived as a living witness to the power of the Word made flesh.
In the fifth century, Pope Leo the Great, who resisted Attila the Hun at the gates of Rome, convincing him not to sack the city, was one of the most eloquent Fathers of the early church. The following comes from a Christmas homily of his and adorns the contemporary Christmas prayer of the Catholic Church in the Liturgy of the Hours:
“Today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death is swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternity. No one is shut out from this joy. Let the just rejoice, for their reward is at hand. Let sinners be glad, for they are offered mercy. Let pagans take courage, for they are summoned to life. … In this mystery of the Word made flesh, a new dignity is bestowed upon human nature. O Christian, recognize your dignity. Make a partner in the divine nature. Do not return by sin to your former baseness. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member, and by whose blood your freedom was purchased.” – Pope St. Leo the Great
In our own time, we struggle to allow the eternal light of the Word made flesh to shine in the darkness and shadows of our fallen world. The following is taken from the Focolare “Word of Life” series for December 2025, whose mission is unity and whose path is love:
“To a world like ours, where the law of the strongest, the cleverest, the most unscrupulous prevail, and where sometimes everything seems paralyzed by materialism and selfishness, we receive the unarmed innocence of the Christ Child, and once again recognize God’s patient and merciful presence in human history.”
As we celebrate the culmination of the Jubilee Year of Hope this Christmas on Epiphany, we proclaim that the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us, because the love of God was first poured into our world on that first Christmas night nearly 2,000 years ago.
May the Wise of our time continue to seek the One who is the way, the truth and the life, who reveals that sacrificial love for all is the only way to fulfill our dreams.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
“Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, grant us peace in our days that with the help of your mercy we may be free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

This is the magnificent intercessory prayer that the priest pronounces during the Communion Rite of each Mass throughout the year after the Lord’s Prayer and prior to the sign of peace on behalf of all the faithful, a proclamation of the fullness of faith and hope in the Lord’s promises. This is the spirituality of Advent that looks to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, all the while knowing in our hearts that he is Emmanuel, God with us already. This is the mystery of our faith that celebrates his first coming in the Incarnation, the majestic Christmas story, and looks beyond – awake and alert – to the end of time for his second coming. This is also our hope for all who have died in the Lord and gone before us. “Arise, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph. 5:14)

Meanwhile, we rejoice with Christians knowing that he is always near in the fullness of Jubilee faith “through the Holy Spirit who has been poured into our hearts,” celebrated sacramentally and recognized wherever two or three are gathered in his name in prayer and loving service.

Although Advent has a different aura than Lent, the call to conversion is just as real. The voice of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord is not merely a suggestion among different options. This is our faith that is proclaimed above, “that with the help of your mercy we may be free from sin.” The Sacrament of Reconciliation is always the gold standard to know the Lord’s mercy and peace, and during the culmination of the Jubilee Year of Hope in the heart of Advent it really shines.

We also pray “to be free of all distress” because anxiety over many of life’s uncertainties casts a long shadow over the love of God and the light of the Gospel, eclipsing the virtues of faith, hope and love. Persistent distress and anxiety are in opposition to the hope that does not disappoint. We do believe, and we ask the Lord to increase our faith to know the fullness of God’s peace during this season of joyful expectation as we await the “blessed hope and the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

The Blessed Mother as the Immaculate Conception and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is the paradigm presence during our Advent longing. God prepared her from the first moment of her conception to be the mother of the Savior, and with a pure heart and a willing spirit open to divine providence, she fulfills the yearning of her people for the Messiah. “The dawn from on high broke upon the world to shine on those who dwelled in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet on the way to peace.” (Luke 1:77-79)

Her apparitions to Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago brought a people back from the brink of annihilation to the light of a new day. Yes, she is the great mother who reveals the tender compassion of our God. With the Blessed Mother and all the saints, the church in every age fulfills the Lord’s commission to work for the salvation of all as a beacon of hope.

Let us rejoice because the Gospel is preached, the sacraments are celebrated, and works of charity, justice and peace abound. May we inspire one another as Advent advances to believe, hope and love. Indeed, the Lord is near! Come, Lord Jesus!

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
During his homily last Sunday on the commemoration of the World Day of Prayer for the Poor, Pope Leo XIV urged world leaders to listen to the cry of the poorest, which challenges those who bear political responsibility. “There can be no peace without justice,” he said, “and the poor remind us of this in many ways – through migration as well as through their cries, which is often stifled by the myth of well-being and progress that does not take everyone into account, and indeed forgets many individuals, leaving them to their fate.”

The pope also encouraged the efforts of charity workers and volunteers and invited all Christians to seek the Kingdom of God by working to transform human coexistence into a “space of fraternity and dignity for all, without exception.”

This is a challenging time across the world where currents of nationalism and isolationism are fracturing global solidarity that is essential for a sustainable commitment on behalf of justice and peace. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has been resolute in word and action for 2,000 years and notably in the modern era since the time of Pope Leo XIII on behalf of human dignity and international solidarity. It is unmistakable that there has been a seamless garment of Catholic Social Teachings from the heart of the church that has been carefully articulated in papal documents.

In recent history there are the writings and witness of Popes Francis and Benedict, St. John Paul II, St. Paul VI, and St. John XXIII. Each Holy Father in their generation spoke passionately to world leaders to turn away from war and unbridled nationalism in order to foster a more peaceful and interdependent fraternity of nations. During the pandemic, Pope Francis sat alone in St. Peter’s Square before the Blessed Sacrament and commended to Divine Providence the wellbeing of all nations and peoples. From imposed isolation and prayerful solitude in 2020 Pope Francis wrote his third encyclical Fratelli Tutti, (Brothers and Sisters All) on fraternal social friendship and global solidarity that springs from our shared humanity.

Pope Saint John XXIII released Pacem in Terris in the midst of the Second Vatican Council, a profound prayer and a plea for peace and solidarity in our world. A few years later St. Paul VI wrote Populorum Progressio on the Development of Peoples and prophetically taught that Integral Human Development contains the imperative of Moral, Spiritual, and Social Growth, not just material wellbeing. St. John Paul II in Sollicitudo Rei Socialis on the 20th Anniversary of Populorum Progressio in 1987 taught unreservedly that the Social Teaching of the Church is integral to its evangelizing mission. Pope Benedict in his 2005 document Deus Caritas Est wrote that “the church’s deepest nature is thus expressed in her three-fold duty: to proclaim the Word of God, celebrate the sacraments, and exercise the ministry of charity. These duties are inseparable and presuppose one another.”

The Catholic Church in the United States wholeheartedly embraces the teachings of our Holy Fathers as core values and a Gospel vision for our world. On the commemoration of the World Day of Prayer for the Poor, we are proud that as a global church we have vast experience in providing humanitarian aid and development assistance through International Agencies such as Catholic Relief Services in collaboration with NGOs and governments alike.

“The Catholic Church has long recognized that helping those in need, regardless of nationality or faith, is a moral imperative. Humanitarian and development aid are an integral part of the church’s commitment to human life and dignity. As the church pursues a more peaceful world through dialogue and diplomacy, lifesaving and life-affirming assistance act as necessary complements that allow for sustainable solutions to take root.

“A comprehensive pro-life, Catholic vision for U.S. humanitarian and development assistance recognizes that the U.S. government, alongside the church, shares a responsibility to advance the common good. Given that government institutions and the church are jointly called to create a more just world, a Catholic approach to U.S. international assistance invokes both parties as essential partners in the promotion of sustainable change that effectively addresses global needs.” (Catholic Vision for U.S. Humanitarian and Development Assistance USCCB)

Pope Leo XIV has reminded us in Dilexi Te, his first Apostolic Exhortation “that the burning heart of the church’s mission convinces me of the need to go back and re-read the Gospel, lest we risk replacing it with the wisdom of this world. The poor cannot be neglected if we are to remain within the great current of the church’s life that has its source in the Gospel and bears fruit in every time and place. This too is essential for the path to holiness.”

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The Wednesday papal audience regularly gathers pilgrims from around the world in St. Peter’s Square, and during this Jubilee Year the square could not contain the vast throng. The universality of the church was on full display during the nearly two-hour audience with Pope Leo XIV, which was well worth the 6 a.m. departure from our hotel.

The Holy Father’s message, delivered in eight languages, went out to all the earth with the passion of Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Human speech echoed around the square to the delight of all physically present and to the virtual cloud of witnesses around the world.

With each audience, bishops are invited to come forward to sit near the stage, and our hearty group’s early arrival gave me an excellent vantage point to see, hear and appreciate the unpretentious yet splendid presentation surrounding Pope Leo’s message. As an added bonus, I was fortunate to sit next to the archbishop of Bangkok, Thailand, who spoke about the church’s reality in a country that is 96% Buddhist, where Catholics number around 500,000 – about 1% of the total population.
It was a relevant portrayal because, to my left, there were as many Buddhist monks at the audience as there were bishops. Pope Leo had just conducted an interfaith prayer service for peace at the Colosseum the day before with representatives from all major religious traditions.

The central focus of the pope’s words at the Colosseum and the audience was prayer and a plea for peace, justice and reconciliation, inspired by the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate (In Our Age), a document of the Second Vatican Council that highlighted the need for interfaith prayer, dialogue and study for God’s glory and a more just and peaceful world. The love of Jesus Christ impels us to proclaim the Gospel of salvation and peace everywhere and for all time.

At the conclusion of each audience, all bishops are welcome to form a line to personally greet the Holy Father. This procession and the entire audience are preserved on the Santa Sede Vaticano website, with the unabridged encounters of each bishop with the pope. It is a treasured moment that is stored in memory for me and preserved on social media for countless others.

What words were exchanged between us during that heartfelt greeting? I introduced myself as being from the Diocese of Jackson and the state of Mississippi, and he smiled and said, “Ah, the United States.” Pope Leo XIV is the first successor of St. Peter to know that Mississippi is more than a river. After thanking him for his ministry in the church, I departed with a pair of rosaries – a prized gift from the Holy Father.

Immediately afterward, there was a joyful reunion with our diocesan group of pilgrims, who had advantageous seating in the square, allowing them to view the stage and capture it all on the big screen nearby. Afterwards, while walking through the square in my episcopal house cassock as everyone was spilling into the neighboring streets and passageways, there were many interactions and conversations.

I spoke to, prayed over, and took photos with pilgrims from France, Mexico, Ireland, Peru, the Philippines and Indiana. What a delight! This is where it came full circle with my recent travels. I asked the pilgrims from Mexico where exactly they live, and the first place blurted out was Saltillo. How true it is that all roads lead to Rome.

The mission trip to Saltillo was an exceptional springboard into pilgrimage and will be the subject of another column. One of the pilgrims from Peru stated the old adage in another way: “Obispo, es un mundo pequeño.” (“Bishop, it’s a small world.”)

Verdad, peregrino, verdad! True, pilgrim, so true. The message of the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, goes out to the ends of the earth and back again. The Wednesday audience left no doubt about this truth.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The Wednesday papal audience regularly gathers pilgrims from around the world in St. Peter’s Square, and during this Jubilee Year the square could not contain the vast throng. The universality of the church was on full display during the nearly two-hour audience with Pope Leo XIV, which was well worth the 6 a.m. departure from our hotel.
The Holy Father’s message, delivered in eight languages, went out to all the earth with the passion of Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Human speech echoed around the square to the delight of all physically present and to the virtual cloud of witnesses around the world.

With each audience, bishops are invited to come forward to sit near the stage, and our hearty group’s early arrival gave me an excellent vantage point to see, hear and appreciate the unpretentious yet splendid presentation surrounding Pope Leo’s message. As an added bonus, I was fortunate to sit next to the archbishop of Bangkok, Thailand, who spoke about the church’s reality in a country that is 96% Buddhist, where Catholics number around 500,000 – about 1% of the total population.
It was a relevant portrayal because, to my left, there were as many Buddhist monks at the audience as there were bishops. Pope Leo had just conducted an interfaith prayer service for peace at the Colosseum the day before with representatives from all major religious traditions.
The central focus of the pope’s words at the Colosseum and the audience was prayer and a plea for peace, justice and reconciliation, inspired by the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate (In Our Age), a document of the Second Vatican Council that highlighted the need for interfaith prayer, dialogue and study for God’s glory and a more just and peaceful world. The love of Jesus Christ impels us to proclaim the Gospel of salvation and peace everywhere and for all time.
At the conclusion of each audience, all bishops are welcome to form a line to personally greet the Holy Father. This procession and the entire audience are preserved on the Santa Sede Vaticano website, with the unabridged encounters of each bishop with the pope. It is a treasured moment that is stored in memory for me and preserved on social media for countless others.
What words were exchanged between us during that heartfelt greeting? I introduced myself as being from the Diocese of Jackson and the state of Mississippi, and he smiled and said, “Ah, the United States.” Pope Leo XIV is the first successor of St. Peter to know that Mississippi is more than a river. After thanking him for his ministry in the church, I departed with a pair of rosaries – a prized gift from the Holy Father.
Immediately afterward, there was a joyful reunion with our diocesan group of pilgrims, who had advantageous seating in the square, allowing them to view the stage and capture it all on the big screen nearby. Afterwards, while walking through the square in my episcopal house cassock as everyone was spilling into the neighboring streets and passageways, there were many interactions and conversations.
I spoke to, prayed over, and took photos with pilgrims from France, Mexico, Ireland, Peru, the Philippines and Indiana. What a delight! This is where it came full circle with my recent travels. I asked the pilgrims from Mexico where exactly they live, and the first place blurted out was Saltillo. How true it is that all roads lead to Rome.
The mission trip to Saltillo was an exceptional springboard into pilgrimage and will be the subject of another column. One of the pilgrims from Peru stated the old adage in another way: “Obispo, es un mundo pequeño.” (“Bishop, it’s a small world.”)
Verdad, peregrino, verdad! True, pilgrim, so true. The message of the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, goes out to the ends of the earth and back again. The Wednesday audience left no doubt about this truth.