Pope Leo XIV walked through the gardens of Castel Gandolfo. The Chicago-born pontiff prepares for his first anniversary in Rome. He spoke to journalists as he left his country house. “Peace be with you,” the Holy Father said on Tuesday. He now faces a deepening rift with Washington. President Donald Trump has criticized the Pope's foreign policy. The White House claims the pontiff endangers many people. These tensions involve the recent nuclear crisis in Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives this Thursday. He will meet the Pope at the Apostolic Palace. The mission of the Church remains the pursuit of peace. Pope Leo XIV also appointed new bishops this week. Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala will lead the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. He succeeds Bishop Mark Brennan, who is seventy-nine. The Church continues its quiet work despite political storms. We pray for wisdom in our national leaders. Peace is a gift that requires constant cultivation.