Pope Leo Leads Corpus Christi Procession, Calls for Peace in Rome

On June 22, 2025, Catholics worldwide celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi with solemn Eucharistic processions emphasizing the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. In Rome, Pope Leo XIV led a mile-long procession from the Basilica of St. John Lateran to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, carrying the monstrance with the consecrated host under a golden canopy, accompanied by thousands including clergy and faithful. The Pope's homily highlighted Jesus' multiplication of loaves and fish as a symbol of sharing and the spiritual nourishment Jesus offers to satisfy the hunger for meaning and eternal life. Similar processions took place in the United States, including at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Rochester, Minnesota, led by Bishop Robert Barron, who emphasized the public witness of faith through the procession. Archbishop Bernard Hebda led an indoor Eucharistic procession at the Cathedral of St. Paul, reflecting on the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life amidst a national Eucharistic revival. Additionally, Pope Leo used the occasion to call for peace amid conflicts in the Middle East, urging humanitarian aid and diplomacy over war.