Lawmakers Urge Congress to Invite Pope Leo XIV

A letter signed by 91 House members asks leaders to host the first American-born pope before a joint session of Congress.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Catholicism

Wide view of the white domed United States Capitol rising above a green lawn under clear autumn daylight with bare trees in the foreground. — Lawmakers in the House asked Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Oct. 30 to formally invite Pope Leo XIV to address a joint session of Congress. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Pope Leo XIV be invited to address a joint session of Congress?

91 House members signed a letter published October 30 asking House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to formally invite Pope Leo XIV to address a joint session of Congress at the start of the 120th Congress. The letter was published four days before the midterm elections.

Why it matters

The signers, who include Catholics and non-Catholics, described the pontiff as a unifying force because he is the first American-born pope, and said his message would be especially timely after a divisive election. Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress in 2015, and Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in 2008.

The letter was signed by 91 House members and sent to the two top House leaders, with the request tied to the start of the 120th Congress. Whether leadership will act on the request has not been stated.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost, the first American-born pope, took the name Leo XIV in 2025 and leads the Roman Catholic Church.

Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson serves as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and is one of the two leaders the letter was addressed to.

Hakeem Jeffries

Hakeem Jeffries serves as House Minority Leader and is the second leader the letter was addressed to.

The details

The letter, published October 30, asks House leaders to issue a formal invitation for Pope Leo XIV to speak before both chambers of Congress. Robert Francis Prevost became the first American-born pope in 2025 and chose the name Leo XIV.

2015: Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress.
October 30, 2026: The letter urging the invitation was published.
November 3, 2026: Midterm elections were held, with seven letter signers failing to win reelection.
Beginning of the 120th Congress: Requested timeframe for a joint session address by Pope Leo XIV.

Roadmap

Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress in 2015, and Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in 2008. The current request would extend that pattern of papal engagement with American lawmakers to a pope who is the first American-born to hold the office.

For readers who follow Catholic life, the proposal signals whether a papal address to Congress could return to Capitol Hill in the coming session. The outcome will depend on whether House leadership extends the formal invitation at the start of the 120th Congress.

The takeaway

Watch for whether House leadership formally responds to the letter as the 120th Congress begins, since that decision will determine if a papal address becomes a reality.