Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
On the 250th anniversary of American Independence, the U.S. Catholic Bishops gathered in Orlando, Florida, to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This event marks a significant reflection of the deep faith that has influenced the United States since its founding. It recognizes America as a nation shaped by prayer and home to devoted Christians, including missionaries, settlers, and clergy who contributed to its spiritual identity.
The message references Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States and cousin of Founding Father Charles Carroll, who consecrated the new Republic to Mary, the Mother of God, after the Revolutionary War. The 2026 event continues that tradition, with the Bishops celebrating the belief that the nation was founded on the principle that all people are endowed by their Creator with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Following the consecration, on June 12, Christians worldwide will observe the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a celebration of God’s love for creation. The date also marks the anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, where he called on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," underscoring the contrast between spiritual repression and Western freedoms.