On U.S. Independence Day, Pope Leo XIV honors migrants in Lampedusa July 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News For more than 30 years, Dr. Pietro Bartolo said he has examined more than 350,000 people and performed postmortem examinations on those who died making the crossing to Lampedusa, where migrants rescued from the Mediterranean first arrived.
Eucharist drew more than a million, including saints, to Philadelphia in bicentennial year July 3, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News The nation’s 250th anniversary and the conclusion of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Philadelphia July 5 evoke memories of a major Eucharistic gathering held in that city the same year the U.S. marked its bicentennial.
Letter of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America July 3, 2026By Pope Leo XIV OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Vatican, World News I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This semiquincentennial marks that defining moment in the history of the United States of America, July 4, 1776, that gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government.
Keeping a republic: a 250th birthday meditation July 2, 2026By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Commentary, The Catholic Difference As we mark the national semiquincentennial on July 4, we might well reflect on Benjamin Franklin’s answer to Elizabeth Willing Powel, when the elderly sage left the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the Philadelphia matron demanded, “Well, Dr. Franklin, what have we got, a republic, or a monarchy?”
The Carrolls of America: Young men, educated in France, influenced a new nation July 2, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Local News, News Unable to receive a Catholic education in the British colonies in North America, three young men from wealthy families were sent to Saint-Omer, France, to study at the College of the English Jesuits.
Two religious sisters from Archdiocese of Baltimore helped shape America July 2, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Local News, News St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Venerable Mother Mary Lange were towering figures in the history of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Working in the early decades of the republic, both women recognized unmet needs in American society and responded by creating institutions that would endure long after their lifetimes.
Faith, freedom and the founders: How Maryland Catholics helped shape a new nation July 1, 2026By Rita Buettner Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Local News, News At the time of the American Revolution, Catholics may have comprised only 1 percent of the total population of the colonies – with the majority of them living in Maryland. Despite their small numbers, Catholics played a role in the founding of the United States of America.
‘Slow down and listen to Jesus,’ says pastor of Philly church home to first major 40 Hours in US June 30, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, and with the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage set to conclude in Philadelphia, a priest in that city — whose parish was home to a major milestone in Eucharistic devotion in the U.S. — said that adoration offers a chance to “slow down and listen” to Jesus.
Bishops hold border Mass, rosary and procession for migrants as USA nears 250th June 29, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Five Catholic bishops from the United States-Mexico border region led a day of pastoral accompaniment in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico, June 26 as the United States approaches its 250th birthday as a nation.
When the White House hosted a Catholic wedding, and then a baptism June 24, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News U.S. President Andrew Jackson had a reputation as a violent man: While still a teenager he fought the British during the American Revolution; as an adult he became a skillful Indian-fighter in the South; and he became famous as a military commander after his bloody victory over the British outside New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812.
Religious, civic leaders join Pope Leo for Liberty Medal award ceremony June 22, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, a number of faith and civic leaders will be on hand as Pope Leo XIV accepts — via livestream from the Vatican — a major honor for his efforts to promote religious liberty, along with freedom of expression and conscience.
250 in Charity and Truth June 22, 2026By Archbishop William E. Lori Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Charity in Truth, Commentary On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will celebrate its 250th anniversary. This event will resonate in every corner of the land, but it has special significance for us in the Premier See, the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We are linked to this event both by history and by the virtue of patriotism.
