Pope Leo XVI reminds Americans that first Thanksgiving was Catholic

In a speech broadcast to the final day of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage, Pope Leo XIV has reminded Americans of the rich Catholic heritage of their nation.

The word Eucharist literally means ‘thanksgiving’, and the first thanksgiving occurred in the USA on September 8th 1565 in Saint Augustine Florida between the Spanish and the natives, a fact unknown to many Americans.

🚨 Pope Leo XIV has celebrated the great Catholic history of the USA by reminding Americans that the first thanksgiving was a Catholic Mass between the Spanish with natives pic.twitter.com/347agNaGOO

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 5, 2026