The 43-day journey of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage along 14 East Coast states beginning in St. Augustine, Florida culminated on Sunday, July 5 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez celebrated Mass for the capacity congregation, who heard an opening video message recorded by Pope Leo XIV.
“You have prayed for unity, renewal and healing for the country under the motto ‘One Nation Under God.’ Those intentions are close to my own heart,” the pope said.
“As the country marks the anniversary of the founding of its earthly homeland, it is my hope that this experience as pilgrims will fix your eyes on the Heavenly one, and likewise serve as a reminder that the Eucharist is an invaluable gift, our indispensable sustenance. It is precisely through recognition of the reception of this gift that the Church in the United States will find strength to carry on her charitable service to wider society.”
(Read the text of Pope Leo’s message here.)
The Mass capped days of celebration in Philadelphia that marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
In his homily for the Mass, Archbishop Pérez cited Pope Leo’s address to the National Constitution Center on July 3, when it awarded him the 2026 Liberty Medal.
The Archbishop spoke about the Holy Father’s emphasis on every person’s God-given dignity and the importance of safeguarding human life from conception to natural death.
Photo by Sarah Webb/Archdiocese of Philadelphia
At the same time, Americans must work to build a society where vulnerable, suffering and marginalized people, including immigrants to the U.S., are met with compassion, solidarity and love.
“What does God’s love look like? We speak about love. We love everything from pizza to people, and we use the same word,” Archbishop Pérez said.
“God so loved the world that He gave His Son. That’s what love looks like. Jesus says that the love that He calls us to is the love that is willing to hand His life over for His friends. Then He calls us friends.”
The Archbishop said he was grateful to God that the previous day’s 102-degree temperature had dropped a bit to 94 degrees under cloudless sunshine. He compared what he called the “intense” moments of celebration of the Independence Day weekend to the intense love that was about to be shared on Philadelphia’s streets.
(Watch the full video of the Mass and eucharistic procession here.)
Following Mass, thousands of faithful joined the eucharistic procession as Archbishop Pérez carried a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament along a 2.2 mile route from the Cathedral Basilica in center city and the shrine of St. Katharine Drexel to Northern Liberties and benediction at the shrine of his predecessor bishop of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann.
A diverse combination of Philadelphia Catholic choirs launched the procession in song, ranging from modern Black Gospel to ancient Latin hymns, all as Archbishop Pérez began the pilgrimage from the Cathedral Basilica to Vine Street, then walked north on Broad Street.
Fellow pilgrims on the route could not help but mark the closeness of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament to everyone who encountered it.
“I saw a picture of the Archbishop with his head resting on the monstrance. He was walking with Jesus,” said Father Erick Villa, who brought 26 pilgrims from Oakland, California for the climax of the pilgrimage and concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Pérez. “That in itself is a powerful testimony of his heart for the Blessed Sacrament, as it was witnessed by so many.”
Emily Pearson came to Philadelphia from Loveland, Colorado, outside Denver, and said she found encouragement in joining thousands of people joining in public witness of their faith.
“Just to see the people along the streets who were not part of the procession, who were just coming out of their homes or their businesses to watch, and just to see how our witness affected them just was incredible,” she said. “They were very happy we were there, saying ‘God bless you, thank you for being here,’ smiling.”
That route ended at the National Shrine of St. John Neumann, where the overflowing crowd of pilgrims knelt and sang to Christ as 43 days of journeying with Him in the Eucharist ended.
“This particular pilgrimage is now over, but the journey does continue,” Archbishop Pérez said. “This pilgrimage is an expression of the journey that, at the end, we’re all walking to. One place. Where is it? Heaven.”
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