Two Catholic bishops in the United States have expressed regret over their meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House after photographs and videos showing them praying with him sparked criticism and raised questions about whether they were endorsing his political agenda.
The meeting, held on October 22, brought several bishops together with Trump in the Oval Office.
Images released publicly showed the religious leaders standing around the president at the Resolute Desk as they prayed with him, prompting concerns among some Catholics about the political implications of the encounter.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, one of the bishops present, said he had understood the meeting to be private and had not expected it to become a public political event.
He said the gathering was not intended to be “a political photo opportunity”.
Grob explained that the bishops had spent about 90 minutes meeting with officials before being taken to the Oval Office to pray with the president.
However, the subsequent release of images and video triggered concern among members of his congregation, with some questioning his participation in the meeting.
“I soon began receiving messages of serious concern over the possibility that I had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election,” Grob said.
He added that some people had expressed hurt because they or their family members had been affected by the president’s policies.
Grob also said none of the participants had given permission for photographs or videos from the encounter to be distributed or posted publicly.
Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, also addressed the controversy in a statement published online.
He said the meeting had been organised by officials from the White House Faith Office to discuss several issues affecting religious communities and vulnerable populations.
According to Joensen, the discussions included immigration, visas for international clergy and the exploitation of vulnerable poor people.
He insisted that the bishops had not intended to endorse Trump or any political party through their participation.
“In no way did any of us intend by our involvement to endorse any political party or any individual candidate,” Joensen said.
He further expressed disappointment over how the meeting had been presented publicly, suggesting that the images had been used to advance partisan interests.
“I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes,” he added.
The video was shared by Margo Martin, a special assistant to Trump and communications adviser who regularly publishes behind-the-scenes footage of the president on social media.
The controversy comes amid tensions between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, alongside criticism from some American Catholic bishops over the administration’s immigration policies.
Trump received support from 55 per cent of Catholic voters in the 2024 presidential election, according to a Pew Research Center study, highlighting the significance of the Catholic community in American politics.
The bishops’ statements underscore concerns among some religious leaders about the importance of maintaining a distinction between engaging political leaders on matters of public interest and appearing to endorse their policies or political ambitions.
