Los Angeles Archdiocese, parishioners grieve death of Pope Francis
The jarring news of Pope Francis' death on Monday morning, just hours after addressing Catholics and blessing thousands of people in Vatican City's St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, has local parishioners and the Archbishop of Los Angeles grieving.
'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,' Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement on lacatholics.org. 'There will be more to say in the days ahead, but in this moment I find myself reflecting with gratitude on the Holy Father's many kindnesses and expressions of pastoral care for us here in Los Angeles.'
Gomez pointed out that Pope Francis was often mindful of the faithful in Los Angeles, home to the largest population of Catholics in the United States.
Pope Francis dies at 88
He noted that the pontiff appointed seven auxiliary bishops to assist him with the massive diocese and often went out of his way to address developments in Los Angeles.
'It was just in January that he offered prayers and words of consolation as we faced the destruction caused by the wildfires in the Palisades and Altadena,' Gomez said, adding that 'I will never forget his fraternal comfort as we mourned the sudden taking of our beloved Bishop David O'Connell in 2023.'
Local Catholics gathered at churches across the world Monday to mourn the pope's passing, including Masses held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.
Photos: Pope Francis through the years
'I feel very sad,' one parishioner said as he headed to Mass. 'He acted as a Pope. He acted as Jesus Christ … All the time, he met with poor people … blessing, talking to people. That is his legacy.'
The Cathedral's first Mass was held at 7 a.m., with another scheduled for noon, at which the archbishop was expected to attend.
'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,' Gomez said in his statement.
The archbishop also urged Catholics to 'honor Pope Francis' legacy' by serving the poor, caring for the earth and spreading the joy of the Gospel through evangelization.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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