Members of a Chicago-based Catholic coalition met Pope Leo XIV after his general audience in St Peter’s Square on 28 October 2026, bringing letters and photographs connected to their ministry among migrants held at a U.S. immigration detention facility.
A delegation from Chicago
According to Vatican News, approximately 30 members of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership travelled to Rome, including Catholic clergy, students and lay leaders. Their work includes prayer, pastoral accompaniment and support for migrants and their families in the Chicago area.
The coalition has particularly focused on Broadview, a facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The group says it has conducted more than 135 visits involving 725 detained immigrants since May 2026, after obtaining temporary permission to enter.
Letters and a call to accompaniment
At the audience, the visitors presented Pope Leo with letters describing migrants’ experiences and photographs documenting the coalition’s activities. Auxiliary Bishop José María García Maldonado of Chicago told Vatican News that the initiative seeks to protect the rights and dignity of people facing difficult circumstances.
For young Catholics involved in parish outreach and social ministry, the meeting highlights the place of accompaniment, prayer and practical support in the Church’s response to migration. The reported encounter does not in itself establish any change to U.S. immigration policy.
