Several U.S. Bishops Bless Trump in White House Oval Office

A group of Catholic bishops from the United States met with President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office on Thursday, October 22. The gathering included several bishops, with Archbishop James Golka of Denver leading the prayer for the president and the nation. The event was shared by Margo Martin, the president’s communications advisor, and Trump’s campaign account, twelve days after the mid-term legislative elections on November 3.

In the video, President Trump is seen seated at his desk as bishops surround him. Some bishops placed their hands on his in a prayerful gesture. Golka, standing to his right, gave thanks to God for the nation, its government, and the presidency, and requested divine blessings for the president. Behind Trump was Paula White-Cain, an evangelical pastor who oversees the White House Office of Faith. Journalist Rocco Palmo noted the presence of Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas, Bishop Scott Bullock of Rapid City, and the emeritus Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas.

The Archdiocese of Denver confirmed the meeting in a statement to its diocesan publication. It expressed respect for the presidential institution and a willingness to continue dialogue on the sacredness of life and the dignity of every person. The archdiocese later clarified that praying for public officials is an ancient Church practice, based on St. Paul’s exhortation to pray for all in authority. It emphasized that the gesture does not imply support for any candidate or party.

The meeting was organized by a head of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative study center in Washington. The U.S. Episcopal Conference stated it did not participate in the event’s preparation. This comes amid recent controversy involving Golka, who had asked exorcist Chad Ripperger to suspend his public lectures and interviews for a year. The priest accepted the request, sparking debate among American Catholics. The archdiocese has not disclosed the reasons for the decision or announced any canonical sanctions.

The gesture of praying for a ruler and laying hands on him is a practice rooted in the evangelical tradition. Protestant pastors aligned with Trump have used this custom in the Oval Office since his first term, making it an almost annual occurrence. The Catholic bishops’ participation in this practice has drawn attention, highlighting the intersection of faith and public life in the United States.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)