‘Heralds of Hope’

Hundreds of Knights and clergy from around the world meet in D.C. for the 143rd Supreme Convention

By Columbia staff

Aug. 13, 2025

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore leads a prayer for Pope Leo XIV at the conclusion of the opening business session of the 143rd Supreme Convention on Aug. 5 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Paul Haring)

More than 1,900 Knights of Columbus leaders, family members and guests assembled in Washington, D.C., Aug. 5-7 for the 143rd Supreme Convention, gathering under the theme “Heralds of Hope.”

“Our history in this city stretches back nearly to our founding,” Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said in his annual report Aug. 5. “Our first council was established here in 1897 — and ever since, we have served both God and country. … This is a fitting place to reflect on our love of country.”

Recalling the 125th anniversary of the Fourth Degree celebrated earlier this year, Supreme Knight Kelly continued, “Our patriotism brings hope to all our nations. The same is true of our charity, unity and fraternity.”

The Order was honored to receive a historic video message from Pope Leo XIV, which was delivered during the televised opening business session Aug. 5. Knights of Columbus worldwide watched as Pope Leo commended the work of the Order and urged Knights to reflect on the “essential virtue” of hope, particularly during this Jubilee Year.

“The Church has always been called to be a sign of hope through the proclamation of the Gospel in words as well as in actions,” Pope Leo said in the message. “In a particular way during this Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind. Your founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, understood this well. He saw the many needs of immigrant Catholics and sought to bring relief to the poor and suffering through his faithful celebration of the sacraments as well as through fraternal assistance — fraternal assistance which continues on to this day.”

Throughout the convention, delegates met daily to discuss the priorities for the mission ahead and attended daily Mass and other fraternal events, including the annual States Dinner. More than 50 bishops and cardinals, as well as priests from around the world, were also present for concelebrated Masses and other convention proceedings.

Read more about the 143rd Supreme Convention’s major events below. Look to next week’s Knightline for coverage of the annual Supreme Knight’s Awards Session and to the October 2025 issue of Columbia for more. Many events can be watched in full at kofc.org/convention.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, delivers the homily during the opening Mass of the 143rd Supreme Convention on Aug. 5. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

Opening Mass | Tuesday, Aug. 5

The 143rd Supreme Convention began Aug. 5 with a votive Mass for Pope Leo XIV at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was the principal celebrant and homilist, joined by nine cardinals and dozens of bishops and priests.

In his homily, Archbishop Broglio reflected on the unity of believers, strengthened by fraternity, and urged Knights to remain steadfast in truth.

“[We must not be] led astray by every new thought and idea that springs from someone’s imagination,” he said. “Rather, we are to be motivated by the truth and live according to the truth. We depend on Peter to confirm us in that truth. ... Do we not pray for Pope Leo this morning so that he might have the strength and valor to confirm us in truth?”

The archbishop also reminded Knights of the challenge Pope Leo issued at the start of his pontificate — to embrace a missionary spirit founded on unity.

“When we grow in personal holiness we build up the Body of Christ,” he said. “We contribute to the reform of the human elements of that community of faith. As good and faithful Knights, we recognize the importance of our personal commitment to growth in holiness, unity, charity and fraternity. Pope Leo, truly a citizen of the world, will show us the way and we are ready to listen to him.”

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly delivers his annual report at the 143rd Supreme Convention on Aug. 5 in Washington, D.C.

Opening Business Session and Annual Report of the Supreme Knight | Tuesday, Aug. 5

Following Mass, Supreme Knight Kelly delivered his annual report, providing updates on the Order’s achievements over the past year, highlighting current initiatives and calling on Knights to be “heralds of hope.”

“This is our mission,” the supreme knight said. “To give hope to others through our service and sacrifice. We lift up the family and the faith. We lift up the vulnerable and the persecuted. ... Like every generation that came before us, we will move forward — in charity, unity and fraternity. We will serve our Lord by serving others. And we will sacrifice for them, like he did for us.”

The supreme knight announced that Knights spent more than 47 million hours in service in the past year and donated more than $190 million to people in need, setting a new charitable record. He also commended the Order’s ongoing efforts to strengthen men in their faith and foster devotion to the Eucharist.

The supreme knight likewise celebrated the Order’s growth, sharing that more than 96,000 men joined the Knights of Columbus in the past year, bringing the total to more than 2.1 million members across nearly 17,000 councils in North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe. The number of younger members increased as well, with more than 8,000 Knights now counted among 146 college councils.

“I’m grateful to those of you who invited someone to join last year, and I renew my call for every Knight to invite two men to join in the year ahead,” Supreme Knight Kelly said.

READ THE FULL ANNUAL REPORT

State Deputy Manuel Tomás Tejeda Sánchez of the Dominican Republic (center) and others wave their jurisdictions’ flags during the annual States Dinner on Aug. 5.

States Dinner | Tuesday, Aug. 5

The opening day culminated with the annual States Dinner — a festive gathering where nearly 2,000 Knights, family members, clergy and other guests celebrated their home jurisdictions with patriotic songs and flags.

During the dinner, Supreme Knight Kelly presented the Gaudium et Spes Award, the Order’s highest individual honor, to Mary Ann Glendon, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and professor of law at Harvard University.

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori read the award citation, which stated in part: “A true Renaissance woman, our honoree has drawn upon her studies of law, theology, philosophy and diplomacy to make lasting contributions to the Church and society, both nationally and internationally. She has dedicated her formidable intellect and moral authority to advancing the social teachings of the Church, advocating for human rights and liberty not for their own sake, but to defend the dignity of every human person and to promote the common good of all.”

Mary Ann Glendon, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, addresses attendees of the annual States dinner after receiving the Gaudium et Spes Award on Aug. 5.

After receiving the award, Glendon thanked the Order for its unfailing support of the laity. Reflecting on the 60th anniversary of Gaudium et Spes, the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on the Church in the modern world, she said the document should remain a wake-up call to today’s Catholics.

“The job of building the civilization of life and love is our responsibility, whatever we’re doing in our daily lives, and it’s a work that is never going to end,” Glendon said. “The Knights of Columbus, from the time they were founded to the present, have been the very model of a transformative presence in the secular sphere. ... May the Lord multiply you and may you continue to touch thousands more lives.”

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, gave an invocation before the dinner, and Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell of Washington offered words of greeting to the assembly. Archbishop Lori gave the closing benediction before leading guests in singing the “Salve Regina.”

Cardinal Frank Leo, archbishop of Toronto, delivers the homily during Mass for the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Aug. 6, the second day of the 143rd Supreme Convention.

Concelebrated Mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration | Wednesday, Aug. 6

The convention’s second day began with Mass for the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, was the principal celebrant, and Cardinal Frank Leo, archbishop of Toronto, delivered the homily.

“As ideologies and distortions of the deposit of faith abound, the Father reminds us to listen to his Son,” Cardinal Leo said. “The truth is our heart, too, has an ear, in a spiritual sense. ... Listening with care to the Father’s eternal Son means providing the space in our hearts to welcome his word — the words of eternal life; to remain in them, dwell in them, allow time for them to grow inside of us, to bear fruit. This manner of listening is what we are called to do, daily and effectively as disciples of the Lord Jesus.”

“To be a leader in ministry and the apostolate,” the cardinal continued, “to be engaged in the affairs of this world so as to bring about God’s reign, requires a wisdom and courage which comes to us when we have a humble, listening heart, a heart that has learned to empty itself in a kenotic way to allow for the words — indeed, the Word — to penetrate our understanding.”

Delegates to the 143rd Supreme Convention raise their jurisdiction signs to confirm their support during the business session.

Business Session | Wednesday, Aug. 6

Supreme Knight Kelly presided over the Wednesday afternoon business session, which included the election of a new supreme director, Past State Deputy Jeffrey Crouch of South Carolina, and the re-election of eight other supreme directors.

Past Supreme Knight Carl Anderson also addressed the delegates, reflecting on the importance of Catholicism in the public square, recalling events such as the election of John F. Kennedy 65 years ago. The Catholic faith, he said, offers a blueprint for society, adding that “a rightly ordered political community, a society at peace with itself, depends upon justice and love.”

“This is why the gift of Blessed Michael McGivney is so timely,” he said, “to bring the Christian witness of justice and love to every parish and every community in our countries. There are those today who say that our Catholic principles are a narrow, sectarian creed, unworthy of public consideration. ... We have come too far as Catholics and as Knights of Columbus to allow that to happen.”

Past Supreme Knight Anderson’s reflection echoed the annual report delivered by Supreme Knight Kelly the previous day. “We prove that good Catholics make good citizens. But times have changed, and now we’re confronted by a different question — if anyone should be a patriot,” the supreme knight explained. “But the Catholic Church teaches that patriotism is a virtue and a duty. It flows from a sense of gratitude — gratitude to God for the gifts he has given us, including the gift of our cultures and our communities.”

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori elevates the Eucharist during the Memorial Mass on the final day of the 143rd Supreme Convention, Aug. 7

Memorial Mass | Thursday, Aug. 7

The convention’s final day began with the annual Memorial Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Lori and offered for Knights, family members and friends of the Order who died in the past year.

In his homily, Archbishop Lori described Blessed Michael McGivney as a “herald of hope to his people, by helping them anchor their hope of eternal life in the Heart of Christ.”

“The priestly heart of Blessed Michael surely embraces our beloved dead who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith,” the supreme chaplain said. “As we ourselves commend them to the Lord, we are acting as heralds of hope. By offering this Mass for our beloved dead, we proclaim our hope of life eternal — the hope that animates how we live, the decisions we make, the relationships we form and maintain, the work we do, our service to the poor and needy.”

After the homily, Deputy Supreme Knight Arthur Peters read the necrology of recently deceased Knights of Columbus leaders.

Following the Mass, Knights and their families had the opportunity to venerate the relics of several saints and blesseds — including Blessed Michael McGivney and several other Knights of Columbus members — which had led the opening procession into the ballroom.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly adjourns the final business session on Aug. 7, concluding the 143rd Supreme Convention.

Closing Business Sessions | Thursday, Aug. 7

The convention concluded with a final business session Aug. 7, which included the presentation and approval of several resolutions — in memory of Pope Francis, honoring Pope Leo XIV, defending religious liberty, supporting Indigenous peoples, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Fourth Degree, and more.

In his closing remarks, Supreme Knight Kelly encouraged Knights to return home prepared to bring the Order to new heights, especially through recruiting young men.

“The secret to our success over the last 140 years has been to be close to the Church and to be close to our faith,” he said. “That’s why I think young men are joining the Knights in such high numbers. They see in something in the Knights that they want.

“What we offer is a life of meaning and mission for so many men,” he continued. “There’s nothing more powerful than a man who has a real sense of mission — that the Lord has made him for a certain purpose. The Knights of Columbus offers that to them.”

READ THE RESOLUTIONS