Media Advisory: Cardinal McElroy to celebrate Mass for Peace on April 11
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2026 |
CONTACT: Georgina Wilkinson 301-221-6226 |
Sean Caine: 443-857-4372 [email protected] |
Cardinal McElroy to celebrate Mass for Peace on April 11
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to the call of Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, will celebrate a Mass for Peace this weekend.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
5:30 p.m.
Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle
1725 Rhode Island Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
Cardinal McElroy has also invited all parishes throughout the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington to celebrate a Mass for Peace on Saturday in response to the Holy Father’s call for prayers.
At his April 8 general audience at the Vatican – just hours after a two-week ceasefire agreement was reached between Iran and the United States – Pope Leo said he would like to “reiterate my invitation to everyone to join me in the Prayer Vigil for Peace.”
“I welcome with satisfaction, and as a sign of deep hope, the announcement of an immediate two-week ceasefire,” the pope told the faithful. “I urge you to accompany this time of delicate diplomatic work with prayer, in the hope that a willingness to engage in dialogue may become the means to resolve other situations of conflict in the world.” Masses for Peace will be offered around the world on April 11.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is home to more than 655,000 Catholics, 140 parishes and 90 Catholic schools, located in Washington, D.C., and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.
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