Pope Francis
December 17, 1936 – April 21, 2025
Let’s pray for the Holy Father today and thank God for his love and service to our beloved Church. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
The Office of Divine Worship has gathered the following resources to help our parish and school communities in this time of prayer and mourning:
Remembering Pope Francis
Our LA Catholic Community Remembers and Honors Pope Francis
In this time of mourning, my prayer is that all of us in the Church will honor Pope Francis’ legacy by remembering that he called us to urgent tasks that are still not finished.
Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles
Statement on the Death of the Holy Father Pope Francis
“I join the family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Catholics all over the world, in grieving the loss of our Holy Father. In this beautiful Easter season, when we celebrate our hope in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we pray that the angels may lead Pope Francis into paradise, that the saints and martyrs welcome him, and that God in his mercy will make his face shine upon his faithful servant and grant him eternal rest in the love that never ends.” -Most Reverend José H. Gomez
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Pope Francis dies on Easter Monday at 88, Vatican announces
Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. on Monday, April 21, U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell said in a video announcement broadcast from the Vatican.
Watch his last visit with the faithful on Easter Sunday
From Angelus News
A teacher sent her students’ book to Pope Francis. He miraculously replied
Martha Hernandez-Sandoval has always held Pope Francis in high esteem: his ability to unite people of all backgroun... READ MORE »
Pope Francis’ burial place about piety, but also identity
In life, Pope Francis seemed to enjoy upsetting conventions and thwarting expectations. He went about in a used Fia... READ MORE »
LA media evangelist Noel Díaz reveals a parting gift from Pope Francis
His battered black shoes showed wear from prayer and intercontinental ministry last year when Pope Francis gave the... READ MORE »
‘Viva Papa Francisco!’ Pope Francis remembered at LA Cathedral Mass
At the same time that Pope Francis’ casket was being sealed in Rome to prepare for his funeral and burial, t... READ MORE »
The time Secret Service ‘lost’ Pope Francis
“Well, we just lost him.” It’s never reassuring to hear those words from a fellow Secret Service officer, but... READ MORE »
Pontiff buried at Basilica of St. Mary Major
Pope Francis was buried Saturday in the Basilica of St. Mary Major after his coffin crossed the center of Rome, mar... READ MORE »
Pope Francis funeral: Poor and powerful pray
Pope Francis was “a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone,” said Cardinal Giovanni ... READ MORE »
As pope’s casket is sealed, he is remembered for simplicity, humility
After an estimated 250,000 people had passed by the body of Pope Francis, lying in an open casket in front of the m... READ MORE »
Rome’s needy bid farewell to pope who lifted them up from misery
It was a busy morning April 25 at the Elemosineria Apostolica, or Apostolic Almonry, behind the Vatican walls. As C... READ MORE »
Where to watch Pope Francis’ funeral Mass live
Pope Francis’ solemn funeral Mass will be broadcast and livestreamed by multiple media outlets April 26, prov... READ MORE »
More than 19,000 people pay homage to pope in first nine hours
In the first nine hours that Pope Francis’ body had lain in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, more than 19... READ MORE »
Prayer, pilgrims accompany pope’s body to basilica
To the chanting of Christ’s promise, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even ... READ MORE »
SoCal Catholics recall their unique encounters with Pope Francis
Manuel Deza considered himself one of the lucky ones. His job included traveling the globe with Pope Francis and or... READ MORE »
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 Ca... READ MORE »
Pope thanks nurse for taking him to St. Peter’s Square one last time
Pope Francis’ final moments were peaceful, and he managed to give one last farewell to his nurse, Massimilian... READ MORE »
Pope’s funeral set for April 26, public viewing April 23-25
The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced. Ca... READ MORE »
In final testament, pope asks for simple burial, prayed for peace
In his brief final testament, Pope Francis asked to be buried at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major and said h... READ MORE »
Canonization of Blessed Acutis is postponed, Vatican announces
The Vatican has announced that despite the death of Pope Francis, the Jubilee of Teenagers is still scheduled to ta... READ MORE »
Native Argentina says goodbye to Pope Francis
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires made history with his election on March 13, 2013, becoming the first... READ MORE »
US bishops honor Pope Francis’ legacy in hours after his death
Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, “will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins ... READ MORE »
Writings by Archbishop Gomez
Statement on changes to Catechism on the Death Penalty
For some years now, I have expressed my concern that the death penalty is both cruel and unnecessary and I have c... READ MORE »
Rejoice and be glad!
This Easter season has been a time of blessing. We continue to thank God for the gift of our new auxiliary bishop, ... READ MORE »
The pope of ordinary life
This week, on March 13, we marked the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate. Much has been written about... READ MORE »
Lessons from the Peripheries
Most Reverend José H. Gomez Archbishop of Los Angeles Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in Am... READ MORE »
Mercy Alone Is Credible
Most Reverend José H. Gomez Archbishop of Los Angeles Celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy on the Ame... READ MORE »
Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family
Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”) is a deep and important document. It comes at a critical time, when the m... READ MORE »
Immigration and the Pope From the New World
Pope Francis will be making history when he makes his first visit to America next month. Francis is the Church̵... READ MORE »
Laudato Si’ and the new evangelization
For many years now, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has been deeply engaged in issues of ecology and care for the ea... READ MORE »
“Praise Be” and the gift of creation
Like many of you, I have been looking forward to Pope Francis’ new encyclical letter on the care of creation. Las... READ MORE »
Gospel Joy in Advent
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and friends. It was a beautiful time for me also. T... READ MORE »
The Face of the Church’s New Hope
As I write, our new Pope Francis has just finished celebrating his inaugural Mass as the spiritual head of the worl... READ MORE »