News BrIEfs

In the wake of a recent statement by Pope Leo XIV condemning the treatment of migrants in the United States as “extremely disrespectful,” the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has made an appeal to President Donald J. Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to halt immigration enforcement until after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) is pleased to announce the promotion of three staff members, reflecting the organization’s commitment to developing and advancing strong lay leadership within the Catholic Church.

On July 8, the bishops of Florida sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis requesting that he pause the signing of death warrants and meet with them to review the Church's teachings on the sanctity of human life. The letter is in response to a ninth death warrant signed by the governor this year. If the state executes Edward Zakrzewski on July 31, it would break Florida's record for the number of executions carried out in a single year. The state put Michael Bell to death by lethal injection on July 15, tying the previous record of eight executions set in 1984, and again in 2014.

Archbishop Wenski of Miami, president of the FCCB, and Bishop Dewane of Venice have issued statements on the new detention facility in the Everglades, known as "Alligator Alcatraz." The detention facility is located on the border of the Archdiocese of Miami and the Diocese of Venice.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed an eighth death warrant since the start of 2025. If the state puts Michael Bell to death by lethal injection on July 15 and carries out the scheduled June 24 execution of Thomas Gudinas, it would match the most executions in a year since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 by a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. Florida also executed eight inmates in 1984 and 2014.