Pope Leo XIV sent a letter greeting the 1500 attendees of the 21st annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on March 19. Through the letter delivered by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, the Holy Father offered his “cordial greetings and good wishes” to those “gathered for fellowship as well as to pray for the United States.”
Citing the writings of St. Paul, the Holy Father noted that the tradition of interceding for one’s own nation goes back to biblical times. The Pope reiterated the ongoing need for evangelisation and called for a “truly authentic, fruitful life of prayer.”
U.S. Domestic Policy Director Vince Haley read a message from President Donald Trump. About a dozen Catholic U.S. lawmakers, including U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, were present during the Prayer Breakfast that celebrated American Catholic accomplishments.
Catholic author and political commentator, Michael Knowles, and Brad Birzer were this year’s special Guest speakers. Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, and Jonathan Roumie also spoke at the event. The organization bestowed its annual Christifideles Laici Award on the founders of the Hallow prayer app.