Bishops Regret Oval Office Prayer

The White House Faith Office arranged the meeting to discuss immigration, visas for clergy, and the treatment of the poor.

Photos and video released on October 22 showed Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Des Moines Bishop William Joensen standing around President Donald Trump at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president, shared the footage on social media.

Grob stated that the religious leaders spent 90 minutes with officials before being ushered in to pray with the president.

He said none of the participants authorized the public distribution of the images.

Joensen wrote in a statement that no one intended to endorse a political party or individual candidate.

He described himself as less shrewd than those who used the meeting for partisan purposes.

Grob noted that he received messages of concern from congregants who felt the visit signaled political alignment.

Some parishioners expressed hurt over the president's immigration policies, which have strained relations between the administration and the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV and Trump have maintained a contentious relationship during the president's second term.

Pew Research Center data from this month shows Trump's approval among US Catholics has dropped to 30%.

That figure is down from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025.', "In the same survey, 42% of Catholics said they preferred Democratic candidates in local House races, compared to 39% who favored Republicans.", "The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3 and will determine control of Congress.", "White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement that Trump has the strongest record of any president for Catholic Americans.", "The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments when contacted by the BBC.", "Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals issued a statement urging Christian compassion in the immigration debate nine days before the Oval Office meeting.", "They argued that the immigration clampdown had fractured families and sowed fear.", "The US Conference of Catholic Bishops recently condemned plans to livestream a military execution, a move the administration later scrapped.", "Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, have visited the Vatican during this term.", "Minnesota bishop Robert Barron and former New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan serve on the president's Religious Liberty Commission.