Ukrainian Catholic Bishops Join U.S. Catholic Leaders at Fall USCCB Assembly in Baltimore
Ukrainian Catholic bishops in the United States participated in the Fall Plenary Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), held November 11–13 in Baltimore. Among the Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs present were Archbishop Borys Gudziak (Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia), Bishop Paul Patrick Chomnycky, O.S.B.M. (Eparch of Stamford, CT), Bishop Bohdan John Danylo (Eparch of Saint Josaphat in Parma), and Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk (Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago).
The gathering offered the bishops opportunities for prayer, fraternal dialogue, and discussion of key pastoral and social issues. During the public sessions, the bishops sent a message of communion and prayer to Pope Leo, affirming their support for migrants and for the defense of religious freedom. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the USCCB, delivered his final address to the bishops as USCCB president. He was followed by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the United States, who also offered remarks. Immigration and recent enforcement actions in the U.S. were significant topics throughout the meeting.
The assembly also included elections of new USCCB leadership: Archbishop Paul S. Coakley was elected president, Bishop Daniel E. Flores vice president, and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades secretary. The bishops voted on several important matters, including proposed revisions to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 2026, and preparations for the next National Eucharistic Congress in 2029.
The Ukrainian Catholic bishops, alongside their Latin Church counterparts, actively participated in the discussions. Archbishop Borys Gudziak proposed an amendment to the U.S. bishops’ “Special Message” on immigration, calling for the inclusion of the phrase “God-given” when referring to human dignity. He argued that this wording emphasizes that dignity is an inherent aspect of being human, independent of legal status or government recognition. The full assembly of bishops accepted the amendment.
