St. Joseph continues to protect the Catholic Church today, just like he protected the Virgin Mary and Child Jesus, Pope Francis said at his general audience on Wednesday.

Pope Francis announced a Year of St. Joseph Tuesday in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church.

On the church's 175th anniversary in 2016, Pope Francis imparted an Apostolic blessing to the priest and members of St. Joseph on the Brandywine Parish.