“The marginalization painfully experienced by millions of persons cannot go on for long," wrote Francis.

U.S. bishops: “The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself.... At the same time, we cannot dismiss or ignore other serious threats to human life and dignity such as racism, the environmental crisis, poverty and the death penalty.”

On Nov. 12, the U.S. bishops elected Archbishop Gomez to be the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the first ballot.

Archbishop Gomez leads the largest U.S. diocese, Los Angeles, home to more than four million Catholics, and has been a vocal proponent of rights for immigrants.

In a news conference after the presentation, Bishop Barron said he wasn't surprised by the lengthy conversation about bringing people back to church

Watch talks by James Martin, S.J., Sr. Peggy O'Neill and more here.