Orlando, Florida — During the Summer Plenary Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) being held in Orlando, Florida, Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of San José, Chair of the USCCB Committee on Hispanic Affairs, presented to the bishops of the United States an ambitious national pastoral plan in preparation or the Roadmap to the Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2031.
Addressing the more than 300 bishops gathered for the Assembly, Bishop Cantú outlined a three-phase initiative that seeks to deepen devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, strengthen catechesis, and renew the faith of Catholics throughout the nation as the Church approaches this historic milestone.
The first phase of the preparation will focus on the pilgrimage of a replica of the Tilma of Saint Juan Diego throughout the dioceses of the United States. Each diocese will receive the sacred image for public veneration, either at the cathedral or another suitable location. The Tilma will then travel from parish to parish, allowing the faithful across the country to encounter and pray before the beloved image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. To accompany this initiative, catechetical materials will be developed and distributed to help educate the faithful on the history, spirituality, and enduring message of Guadalupe.
The second phase will center on a National Eucharistic Congress and Pilgrimage to the Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. This major event will unite Catholics from across the United States in prayer, Eucharistic devotion, and Marian pilgrimage, highlighting the profound connection between devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the mystery of Christ present in the Holy Eucharist.
The third phase will culminate in a National Celebration in the United States marking the 500th Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2031. The celebration is envisioned as a moment of national thanksgiving, evangelization, and renewal, honoring the Patroness of the Americas whose message of faith, hope, and unity continues to inspire millions.
These national observances will complement the major celebrations planned in Mexico City, where the 500th anniversary of the apparitions to Saint Juan Diego will be commemorated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has been invited to participate in the historic event and is expected to attend, making the jubilee celebration a moment of significance for the universal Church.
In his presentation, Bishop Cantú emphasized that the upcoming anniversary is not merely a remembrance of a past event but an opportunity for a new evangelization. The message of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of compassion, dignity, reconciliation, and encounter with Jesus Christ, remains as relevant today as it was nearly five centuries ago.
As the Church in the United States begins this journey toward 2031, Catholics are encouraged to deepen their devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, embrace the call to missionary discipleship, and participate actively in the various diocesan and national initiatives that will mark this historic celebration.