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Archbishop Jose H. Gomez joined Catholics from Los Angeles and around the world on Monday in mourning Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88.
Gomez will honor Pope Francis at Mass Monday at 12:10pm at Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles. The Archbishop issued a statement calling his beloved Pope and towering world figures the man of “many kindness and expressions of idyllic care for us in Los Angeles.”
Gomez said, “In this period of mourning, my prayer is that all of us in the church honor Pope Francis’ legacy by remembering that he called us to an urgent task that had not yet finished.
“We must be patient in creating a world that cares for our common home, the earth, respects the holiness and dignity of all human lives, and the desire of our Creator to live in peace and fraternity as a family.
“And we must evangelize, spread the joy of the gospel as missionary disciples, accompany our brothers and sisters, and help Jesus find the happiness and love that every human heart longs for.
“More than anything, we must seek our own love for Jesus, our holiness and our commitment to reflecting His mercy and love in our everyday lives.”
Gomez added that he will take the next few days with gratitude.
Pope Francis appointed nine auxiliary bishops to support Gomez. As of 2005, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, including Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties had a Roman Catholic population of 4.3 million. There are 288 parishes in 120 cities in the Archdiocese.
In January, Gomez said Francis offered prayers and words of comfort when he faced the destruction caused by the wildfires of Palisade and Altadena.
Vatican Camerlengo’s Cardinal Kevin Farrell said Pope Francis had announced that he had passed away at 7:35am. Much of Los Angeles has been woken up to the news of Pope Francis’ death.
Francis was diagnosed with chronic lung disease and part of his lungs was removed when he was young. He was admitted to Jemeri Hospital on February 14th for a respiratory episode that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days in the hospital.
He served as Pope for 12 years, setting a different tone of the Pope, focusing on the humility of the Catholic Church, facing scandal and accusations of indifference. Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergolio became Pope on March 13, 2013 and succeeded Pope Benedict XVI.
Francis’ election.
Francis reached out to the LGBTQ+ community, cracked down on traditionalists, and created tensions with conservatives in the Catholic Church.
He was Pope during the coronavirus pandemic and asked his followers to use it as an opportunity to review the economic and political frameworks that he said were directing the wealthy towards the poor.
“We’ve found ourselves on the same boat. We’re all fragile and confused,” Francis told the empty St. Peter’s Square in March 2020. Part of his message was, “We all need to row together.
A full statement from Archbishop of Los Angeles Gomez
Statement on the death of Holy Father Pope Francis
Most pastor Jose H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles
April 21, 2025
Here I will join God’s family, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Catholics around the world, mourning the loss of my Holy Father.
In this beautiful Easter season, when we celebrate the hope of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, an angel leads Pope Francis into paradise, saints and martyrs welcome him, praying that his God of Mercy will make his faithful servant shine his face and not give him eternal rest.
I will say more in the next few days, but at this moment I find myself thankfully reflecting the many kindness and idyllic expressions of care and idyllic care of the Holy Father for us here in Los Angeles.
Over the years, he appointed seven auxiliary bishops to help me serve God’s family, and he always showed us his spiritual intimacy quickly in the times we needed. In January, he offered his prayers and words of comfort when we faced the destruction caused by the wildfires of Palisades and Altadena. I will never forget the comfort of his brother as I lamented the sudden stolen of our beloved bishop David O’Connell in 2023.
During this time of mourning, my prayer is for all of us in the church to honor Pope Francis’ legacy, remembering that he called us to an urgent task that was not yet finished.
We must continue our work in serving the poor, immigrants, and everyone forgotten in the “perior” of society.
We must be patient in creating a world that cares for our common home, the earth, respects the holiness and dignity of all human life, and the desire of the Creator to live in peace and fraternity as a single human family.
And we must spread the joy of the gospel as missionary disciples, accompany our brothers and sisters, and help Jesus find the happiness and love that every human heart longs for.
In particular, we must deepen our commitment to seek our own love for Jesus, our holiness, and to reflect His mercy and love in our daily lives.
Pope Francis has shown us by his constant example that we should have great devotion to our blessed mother and mother of the Church.
We now look to Holly Mary and look for her protection and gentle care. Let her envelop our Holy Father in her mantle of love. And may he rest in peace.
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