“A prophetic church like [the one sought by Pope Francis], highlighting social justice and solidarity with the destitute and the persecuted, has the potential of closing the chasm between the church and the modern, secular culture of Quebec.”

Meanwhile, Sister Carol Keehan, who led the Catholic Health Association for 14 years, called Becerra “a leader whose character is rooted in his Catholic upbringing and values.”

The growing attacks on priests and their ministries has left many living in fear. “The security situation is not just bad; it is extremely so,” said Father Bassey. “You want to hurry to get back home; you don’t want to be in a lonely place; you can’t step out and take a stroll.

Catholic school enrollment dropped by 111,000 last year. But at St. Joseph, a small Catholic school in Anderson, S.C., the student body has nearly doubled.

On Ash Wednesday, Joe Biden urged Americans to hold in prayer those who have suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic while “look[ing] with hope and anticipation toward Easter and brighter days ahead.”

From 1965 to 2021, the Catholic share of the House rose from 22 percent to 31 percent, and the Catholic share of the Senate rose from 14 percent to 24 percent.