Pope Francis mourned at Cathedral Mass hours after his death
Archbishop José H. Gomez recalled Pope Francis’ sense of humor and personal concern for Catholics in Southern California at a special Mass April 21, hours after the late pontiff’s death in Rome.
“My feelings today are very personal,” said the archbishop at the Easter Monday Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. “I am going to miss him, big time.”
The special Mass, announced only hours earlier, drew more than 500 people to the April 21 noon Mass. Joining Archbishop Gomez were three Los Angeles auxiliary bishops appointed by Pope Francis: Bishop Marc Trudeau, named in 2018, and Bishops Albert Bahhuth and Matthew Elshoff, OFM, both appointed in 2023.