Pope to meet this week with leader of US bishops

Pope Francis will meet with the president of the United States bishops on Thursday, September 13, according to the Vatican spokesman.

Greg Burke announced the meeting this afternoon.

The Holy Father will meet with Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Houston, who is the president of the bishops’ conference. As well, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston will participate. Cardinal O’Malley is on the pope’s Council of Cardinals and is also the director of the Vatican’s commission for the protection of minors.

In addition, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles will be there, in his role as vice-president of the conference. And, Monsignor Brian Bransfield, a priest of Philadelphia, who is the secretary-general of the conference.

The meeting will be held at midday in the Apostolic Palace.

Cardinal DiNardo had requested a meeting with the pope in the wake of the Philadelphia grand jury report on sexual abuse, and reiterated his request after the former nuncio of the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, released his “testimony” saying the Vatican knew of the abuses of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.