Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

Pope Leo XIV delivered his first homily as Holy Father on May 18, 2025, addressing a crowd of over 200,000 Jubilee year pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. His message emphasized the importance of being a loving Church dedicated to missionary service and inclusive unity. He stressed that the Church should focus on fraternal compassion, particularly towards those who are suffering and vulnerable.

In alignment with Pope Leo XIV's message, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently sent a letter to Congress urging the passage of a budget that prioritizes care for the poor. The letter was signed by bishops leading six major committees within the USCCB. They expressed concerns about the current budget bill's impact on essential services like Medicaid, Affordable Care Act coverage, and SNAP benefits due to tax breaks for the wealthy.

The USCCB also highlighted issues such as adequate revenue generation and avoiding future cuts to poverty programs. According to their letter, the House-passed budget package could add nearly $3 trillion to the deficit over ten years.

Another concern raised by the U.S. Bishops is the inclusion of immigrant families in legislation. They argue that some provisions penalize families fleeing persecution who follow legal pathways, which contradicts Pope Francis' previous guidance.

Environmental protections were also addressed by the USCCB coinciding with Pope Francis’ ecological encyclical anniversary. The proposed $500 billion cut to clean energy programs in the budget bill could significantly affect low-income and rural families, especially in disaster-prone areas.

While federal discussions continue, local efforts in Hawaii aim to support vulnerable populations responsibly. HOPE Services Hawaii is developing transitional housing for houseless seniors and partnering with hospitals and parishes for medical care through street medicine outreach teams. Additionally, parish food ministries collaborate with organizations across islands to tackle food security issues among families.

The Diocese Office for Social Ministry (OSM) supports these initiatives through CRS Rice Bowl mini-grants collected during Lent to provide nutritious food for those in need. OSM has also aided UH Law School in offering legal services to migrants and refugees on neighboring islands while Catholic Charities Hawaii hired an immigration attorney in Oahu for migrant assistance.

For further information on these topics or organizations mentioned, readers can visit their respective websites: www.usccb.org for more on USCCB’s stance on budget debates; www.hopeserviceshawaii.org;www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org; and www.officeforsocialministry.org for details about local efforts in Hawaii.