ARCHBISHOP IN ROME: Archbishop receives pallium from Pope Leo XIV, shares message for flock in Nebraska

Pope Leo XIV blessed and imposed Archbishop McGovern’s pallium on Sunday, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Scroll to read and watch highlights from the Mass and learn more about Archbishop’s historic week in the Eternal City that also included greeting the Holy Father at his Wednesday General Audience and praying at the tombs of St. Paul and Pope Francis.

Archbishop Michael McGovern prays by the tomb of St. Paul at Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on June 26, 2025. ZOFIA SZUBAK

Pope Leo XIV presents the pallium to Archbishop Michael G. McGovern of Omaha, Neb., during Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29, 2025, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. The pallium symbolizes the archbishop’s authority and unity with the pope. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Sunday June 29, 2025

Pallium ceremony unites Archbishop McGovern with the pope and with Jesus

ROME – As part of a centuries-old Church tradition, Pope Leo XIV bestowed a pallium on Archbishop Michael G. McGovern and 53 other new metropolitan archbishops during Mass on Sunday, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.

The new archbishops hailed from more than two dozen countries. Archbishop McGovern said he sat next to one from England and another from Poland. Eight of the archbishops were from the United States. About 40 people from the Archdiocese of Omaha witnessed the ceremony.

The pallia had been placed overnight near the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle before the pope blessed them and placed them on the shoulders of the archbishops, who individually knelt before him for the investiture of the pallia.

“It is a beautiful day,” Archbishop McGovern said after the Mass. It was a day, he said, in which he felt the closeness of St. Peter and the early Church and that of the Church today under Pope Leo, St. Peter’s successor.

The pallium, worn over the shoulders, is meant to resemble a lamb being carried and serves as a reminder of an archbishop’s share in the role of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

“For me today, if there was something that came into my heart, it was that sense that Christ is my Shepherd,” Archbishop McGovern said. “Christ is a Shepherd for me and for all these 53 other archbishops, that’s He’s shepherding us through the ministry of Pope Leo and therefore strengthens us so we can go out and help one another.”
Sunday June 29, 2025

Archbishop shares special message with flock in Nebraska after receiving his pallium

Archbishop Michael McGovern shared a special video message from Rome

Watch his message below.

Wednesday June 25, 2025

Archbishop McGovern greets Pope Leo XIV after general audience

ROME—The Most Rev. Michael McGovern, Archbishop of Omaha, greeted Pope Leo XIV at the Holy Father’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday morning.

Archbishop McGovern is in Rome to receive his pallium, a scarf-like vestment blessed by the pope and given each year to the newest metropolitan archbishops from around the world.

Archbishop McGovern shared the following statement about his meeting with Pope Leo:

“I had the opportunity to greet Pope Leo XIV at the conclusion of today’s General Audience in Rome. I assured him that he has the prayers and support of the people of northeast Nebraska. On Sunday, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pope Leo will bless and impose the pallium on 35 new residential archbishops from around the world. Please keep our Holy Father and me in your prayers this week.”

Wednesday June 25, 2025

Archbishop McGovern prays at tomb of Pope Francis

The tomb of Pope Francis at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. ZOFIA CZUBAK

Archbishop McGovern prayed at the tomb of Pope Francis, who elected him a bishop in 2020 and then appointed him the sixth Metropolitan Archbishop of Omaha on March 31.

Pope Francis died April 21, after being hospitalized for several weeks. Departing from a recent tradition, Pope Francis chose to have his body interred at St. Mary Major, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome, instead of at St. Peter’s Basilica.

“Pope Francis generously served the Lord, first as a Jesuit priest, then as a bishop, then as a cardinal and finally as pope,” Archbishop McGovern said. “I am grateful to God for his life, ministry and service, and it was a privilege to pray at his tomb Wednesday. May Pope Francis know the eternal peace of the Risen Christ, whom he loved and served with devotion.”

Archbishop McGovern celebrated Mass at the basilica Wednesday evening with pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Omaha in Rome for the pallium Mass.

Archbishop McGovern gives the homily at a Mass at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome on June 25, 2025. ZOFIA CZUBAK

Pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Omaha pose with Archbishop Michael McGovern outside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome on June 25, 2025. ZOFIA CZUBAK

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES ON ARCHBISHOP MCGOVERN’S PILGRIMAGE TO ROME.