“Families aren’t chains. They are mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, grandmothers, grandfathers and brothers and sisters.”

Cardinal DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Christians experience the pain of the family and friends of the victims "as if it were our own."

“We are losing three generations of people, and we need to hear why,” said Bishop Mark O’Connell.

"A child born alive following an abortion should receive the same degree of care to preserve her life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same gestational age," said Cardinal Dolan of New York.

Bishop Elizondo was among 10 Hispanic U.S. bishops visiting the Holy Land to advocate for "bridges not walls."

U.S. Roman Catholic bishops are backing public sector unions in an upcoming Supreme Court case.