Brooklyn Priest to Deliver Benediction at Trump’s Second Inauguration

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Father Francis Mann, a retired priest from the Diocese of Brooklyn, has been invited to deliver the closing benediction at President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C. The priest, who has developed an unlikely friendship with Trump, described the honor as “mind-boggling” and an “indescribable honor.”

The friendship between Mann and Trump began several years ago when the priest discovered the overgrown gravesite of Trump’s parents and grandparents in a Queens cemetery. Mann took it upon himself to clean and decorate the plot, later sending a photo of the restored gravesite to Trump. The president, touched by the gesture, personally called Mann to thank him, sparking a relationship that has endured through the years.

“It was slightly overgrown,” Mann told The Tablet, the diocesan newspaper. “I thought this shouldn’t be. This is a historic site. So, I went and bought a weed whacker and some decorations and fixed up the plot.”

Since then, the two have met on multiple occasions, including at Trump Tower in Manhattan and the president’s summer residence in Bedminster, New Jersey. Trump has also endorsed Mann’s children’s book, “The Wounded Butterfly,” and sought the priest’s advice on winning the Catholic vote during the 2024 election.

Mann described Trump as “the nicest, most down-to-earth guy” and praised his sense of humor and lack of pretension. “There are no airs about him,” Mann said. “He’s a regular guy.”

According to The Associated Press, Trump won 54% of the Catholic vote in the 2024 election, a significant improvement from previous elections. Mann believes Trump’s increased focus on faith, particularly after surviving two assassination attempts, has resonated with Catholic voters. “I think he sees the hand of God in all this,” Mann said. “He feels he was spared because God has a plan for him.”

Mann’s benediction at the inauguration will be deeply personal. He plans to ask for blessings for Trump, the new vice president, and the country they will lead. “It’s taken me longer than I thought to process having been chosen to be such a significant part of the inauguration’s moment in history,” Mann reflected.

The Diocese of Brooklyn confirmed Mann’s participation in the inauguration but noted that the priest was unavailable for further comment. The Tablet reported that Mann’s role in the ceremony underscores the unique bond between the priest and the president, a relationship that began with a simple act of kindness at a Queens cemetery.