For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, American bishops met face-to-face to discuss Church issues both administrative and spiritual.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops gathered for its 2021 Fall General Assembly Nov. 15-18 in Baltimore. The assembly was the first in-person gathering of the full body since November 2019, the USCCB states on its website. The spring 2020 assembly was cancelled; fall 2020 and spring 2021 meetings were held virtually, according to the USCCB

The Catholic News Agency reports more than 225 bishops attended the assembly, along with staff, members of the media and others.

Topics discussed among the bishops included practical matters, such as the 2022 budget, and spiritual matters, including new translations of liturgy and whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights should be denied communion, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The National Catholic Reporter reported that officials involved in the conference declined to say whether vaccines were required, but journalists in attendance were not asked to provide proof of vaccination, the report states. 

Conference attendees, including the bishops, diocese officials, staff and journalists, were expected to follow indoor mask mandates and voluntary rapid tests were available throughout the conference, Chieko Noguchi, director of public affairs at the conference, said to the National Catholic Reporter. 

“We have received positive feedback from bishops who are looking forward to gathering for the first time in two years to talk, pray and discuss business together,” Noguchi said.

Prior to the start of the conference, Catholic dioceses around the country asked for prayers of guidance and support for the attendees.

“Please keep the American bishops in your prayers this week as we meet in person for the first time since the pandemic began, Bishop Lawrence Persico of the Diocese of Erie, PA, posted to Twitter Nov. 16,

"May our conversations, discernment, decisions and prayers be fruitful, and may the Holy Spirit pour his grace on us all."