Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a virtual address discussing the role of Catholicism in America. He referenced Pope Leo XIII's 1895 encyclical, which expressed a desire for the Catholic Church to contribute to America's greatness. Rubio emphasized that the Catholic faith has been integral to the American story since its inception, with the first Christian service on American soil being a Catholic Mass. He highlighted the presence of Catholic explorers, soldiers, priests, and pioneers who shaped the nation. Rubio argued that Christianity provided a framework for understanding the world and influenced the spirit of expansion and discovery that defined America. He noted the contributions of Catholics in the American Revolution, and that the founding was not a complete break from the past, but a continuation of a tradition rooted in moral order. Rubio concluded by stating that the nation built by these individuals continues to serve as a testament to the eternal truth of the Catholic faith.