To understand the significance of the Jubilee and its seven-centuries-old tradition in the Catholic Church, it is necessary first to recall its biblical origins and the historical events that have shaped it.

Pope Francis’s letter poses an implicit question to the whole church in the United States: Will we subject our political debates on immigration to the scrutiny of the Gospel or not?

Archbishop Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, thanked Pope Francis and said the bishops join the pontiff in prayer that “families suffering from the sudden withdrawal of aid may find the strength to endure.”

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Robert G. Casey of Chicago as his successor.

Pope Francis has added the feast day of St. Teresa of Kolkata, September 5, to the General Roman Calendar.

The letter also stated that Francis disagrees with identifying the illegal status of migrants with criminality, and called on the bishops “to walk together” and defend the human dignity of the migrants in their country.