Cardinal Roger Mahony to witness sealing of the coffin of Pope Francis

As the Senior Cardinal Priest of the 204 Cardinal Priests in Rome, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will witness the sealing of the coffin of Pope Francis on Friday. Vatican News reported today that the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff requested the presence at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin on Friday of Cardinal Mahony along with Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Domenique Mamberti, Mauro Gambetti, Baldassare Reina, and Konrad Krajewski.

Cardinal Mahony will also concelebrate at the Funeral Mass for Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26 in Rome. Following the Funeral Mass, the Cardinal will process to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major) to be present for the burial of Pope Francis.

“I was stunned and felt honored when I received the news to have been chosen for these special roles,” said Cardinal Mahony. “Pope Francis and I had a special friendship over the years, and we exchanged personal letters often.”

“God’s surprises never seem to end, and I am joyful that someone from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was chosen for this role. It is yet another example of the importance of our wonderful Archdiocese. I carry out these roles with gratitude to the extraordinary Catholic community of Los Angeles under the leadership of Archbishop José Gomez, our Auxiliary Bishops, our priests and deacons, our men and women of Consecrated Life, and our outstanding lay Catholics. May our Risen Lord continue to bestow blessings upon all of us,” added the Archdiocese’s Archbishop Emeritus.

Cardinal Mahony was appointed as Archbishop of Los Angeles by Saint John Paul II on July 12, 1985 and was created as a Cardinal in June 28, 1991. He retired at the age of 75 on March 1, 2011. Cardinal Mahony has served in ministry in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for 40 years and is celebrating his 50^th anniversary as a bishop in 2025.

In anticipation of the funeral of the Holy Father Pope Francis in Rome, Archbishop José H. Gomez will celebrate a memorial Mass in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Pope Francis on Friday at 12:10 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Archbishop Gomez will be joined by the Auxiliary Bishops and clergy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and many faithful to pray for the soul the Holy Father and bid him a final farewell from the local church in the Archdiocese. The Mass will also be livestreamed on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9oaqz4F0cg and @LACatholics and OLACathedral Facebook channels.

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass this Saturday will mark the beginning of an ancient tradition of holding nine consecutive days of mourning and prayer, Novendiales. Catholic churches and individuals in the Archdiocese will join Catholics across the world in prayer for the repose of his soul. At the Cathedral, the special prayers will be said a few minutes before each Mass beginning Sunday, April 27 through May 4, as the Cathedral does not hold daily Mass on Saturdays. For more information on the Masses and Novendiales visit www.LACatholics.org/pope-francis.