Pope John Paul II received, in a private audience on Thursday morning, the leadership of the United States Bishops' Conference (USCCB), in the context of the Ad Limina visit of the North American bishops, which began in March and will continue for the next 10 months.

The Holy Father met with Bishops Wilton Daniel Gregory of Belleville, William Stephen Skylstad of Spokane and Msgr. William P. Fay, respectively president, vice president and secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.