Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, met privately with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Feb. 9 and reported he used the 35-minute audience to discuss both the archdiocese’s growth and ongoing challenges related to immigration enforcement.
In a statement posted to the Archdiocese of Portland’s website, Sample said he shared updates on the efforts to strengthen and grow the local Catholic community. Those efforts include building stronger support among priests, helping parishes become more welcoming and focused on sharing their faith, and supporting Catholic schools in their mission. According to the archdiocese, it has seen notable growth: 1,200 adults entered the church in 2025, more than 1,600 are expected to do so this Easter, and 32 seminarians are currently in formation to become priests.
The archbishop also said he delivered several Oregon-themed gifts to the pope: a Pendleton wool blanket depicting Mount Hood, images from a Corpus Christi procession in downtown Portland, and historic photographs of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Northwest Portland cathedral is marking its centennial this year, beginning with a dedication anniversary mass at 5:10 p.m. Feb. 14.
The pair also discussed concerns about ongoing immigration enforcement in the United States, Sample reported. According to Sample, such enforcement activity has at times affected the church’s ability to provide pastoral care in detention centers and has caused fear among Catholic immigrants, as the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents near some parishes in the Portland area had left some parishioners afraid to attend Mass.
“Our Holy Father has been a great source of encouragement and support for the United States bishops, I think, to be very strong in our statements and in our support for the immigrant community back home,” Sample said in a statement posted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. “Our Holy Father feels very strongly about this.”
As chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, Sample also raised concerns about ensuring access to pastoral care and the sacraments for detainees. He emphasized the need to protect religious rights in detention facilities and urged Catholics of all ethnic backgrounds to stand in solidarity.
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