Southern Californians remember Pope Francis at Memorial Mass in downtown L.A. ...Middle East

Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated a Memorial Mass on Friday, April 25, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles in downtown to honor the life and ministry of Pope Francis.

The liturgy was held in anticipation of the pope’s funeral in Rome on Saturday. It drew auxiliary bishops, local clergy, elected officials, consul generals, interfaith leaders and parishioners, who gathered to pray for the late pontiff and give a final farewell from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

“We come together with hearts full of both sorrow and gratitude as we celebrate this Memorial Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis,” Gomez said.

Francis, the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to serve as pontiff, led the Catholic Church from 2013 until his death earlier this week at age 88 from a stroke and heart failure.

He’s remembered for his focus on mercy, care for the poor, and efforts to make the Catholic Church more responsive to modern social issues from human rights to climate change. Francis’ funeral Mass will take place Saturday in St. Peter’s Square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

With a capacity of about 3,000, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles was nearly full, and more than 1,200 people joined the celebration via livestream.

“It has been powerful and emotional to see so many people in Rome coming out to pray and pay respect to the Holy Father,” Gomez said. “And it’s moving to be here with all of you as we remember his legacy and his many gifts to the church.”

Gomez recalled how Francis chose the Italian island of Lampedusa for his first pastoral visit outside Rome — a small, remote island in the Mediterranean that had become a symbol of the migrant crisis, with many refugees risking their lives to reach its shores.

His visit reflected the pope’s call for people to look beyond their own comfort and recognize their responsibility toward others, Gomez said.

“For these past 12 years, Pope Francis has been urging us to recover our common humanity. He told us that we are responsible for one another, that we have the duty to care for one another,” Gomez said. “He gave us a beautiful vision of the world as God intends it to be.”

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass on Saturday will begin the traditional nine days of mourning and prayer known as the Novendiales. A large gathering of world leaders, church officials and mourners is expected to attend.

In Los Angeles, Catholic churches will join the worldwide Catholic community in offering prayers for the late pope, with special prayers at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels before each Mass from Sunday, April 27, through May 4.

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