Catholic Bishops Express Regret Following Oval Office Prayer for President Trump

Twelve Roman Catholic bishops participated in a prayer session for President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on October 22, 2026. The meeting, which was arranged by the Heritage Foundation and facilitated by White House Faith Office advisor Paula White-Cain, concluded with the bishops gathering around the president’s desk to offer prayers. Following the event, White House staff released photos and video footage of the encounter on social media.

In the days following the publication of these images, several participants, including Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, issued statements expressing regret. The bishops stated they were under the impression the meeting would remain private and claimed they were not informed that the administration intended to publicize the prayer session. Archbishop Grob characterized the event as a politicized photo-op, emphasizing that his participation was intended to advocate for the vulnerable rather than to signal an endorsement of the president or his political platform. Both bishops apologized for the confusion and disappointment their presence caused among their parishioners.