Dr. Pat Castle, founder and president of Life Runners, recently joined John Morales on Morning Air to reflect on a providential visit to the Vatican and a personal encounter with Pope Leo XIV.
Dr. Castle’s path to Rome was not guaranteed. At the time of his planned visit, the Holy Father was away on his first apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon. What seemed at first to be a missed opportunity became an occasion for trust. Through the assistance of Bishop Thomas Paprocki, a longtime friend, a letter was submitted on Dr. Castle’s behalf requesting an audience. The outcome remained uncertain until the final hours.
The suspense reached its height on the Friday evening before the scheduled audience, when Dr. Castle went to collect his ticket. Vatican protocol allows little advance knowledge. A standard ticket signals attendance at an audience, while a gold ticket indicates a personal meeting with the Pope. For security reasons, the contents are not disclosed until just before the event. When Dr. Castle opened the envelope and saw the gold ticket inside, he was ecstatic.
Dr. Castle and three fellow Life Runners arrived at the audience and were seated in the second row, only a few feet from the Holy Father. As he took his place, Dr. Castle reflected on the road that had brought him there. He had once served as a military officer, sworn to defend his country. Now, he serves on a different front line, standing in peaceful witness outside abortion facilities, confronting grave, moral evil.
That mission has not been without resistance. While many support the pro life cause, others oppose it fiercely, often with hostility rooted in confusion and spiritual blindness. Yet Dr. Castle testified that perseverance in the face of such opposition bears fruit. Despite the struggle, or perhaps because of it, the Lord had led him to stand before the Successor of Peter, affirming that fidelity to truth is never wasted.
Pope Leo XIV entered and delivered a message centered on sacrificial discipleship. The Holy Father challenged those present to examine their willingness to give their lives for the Kingdom of God. A wholehearted yes, offered with zeal and humility, prepares the soul to receive Christ worthily, especially in the coming celebration of Christmas, and directs the believer toward eternal life.
When the moment came to greet the Pope personally, Dr. Castle presented him with a white Life Runners jacket, the only one of its kind, along with a blue Life Runners wristband. The wristband bears a simple but direct message: “Remember the Unborn, Jeremiah 1:5, LifeRunners.org”. When Dr. Castle asked whether the Holy Father would wear it, Pope Leo responded with warmth and simplicity, smiling, nodding, and extending his hand.
For Dr. Castle and the Life Runners community, the moment was not about recognition, but confirmation. It was a reminder that steadfast public witness, offered in charity and truth, remains at the heart of the Church’s mission. The meeting served as an encouragement to continue running, praying, and standing for life, trusting that God leads His servants exactly where they are needed.