Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles reflected on March 11 about the deep spiritual ties between the city and St. Francis of Assisi, as preparations begin for a special Jubilee Year marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death.
The upcoming Jubilee Year holds significance for Catholics in Los Angeles and beyond, offering an opportunity to revisit the origins of their faith community and its connections to Franciscan tradition. The observance coincides with other major anniversaries, including the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and the 495th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearances at Tepeyac.
Gomez recounted his own pilgrimage to Assisi following his installation as archbishop in 2011, describing how he celebrated Mass at the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels—the namesake for Los Angeles. He traced local Catholic history back to St. Junípero Serra and fellow Franciscans who founded Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in 1771, which led to the establishment of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Porciuncula ten years later.
He also discussed how St. Francis responded to a call from God to “repair my house,” initially taking it literally before understanding it as a mission to renew the universal Church. This movement eventually brought Franciscan missionaries across Europe and into the Americas, where they played key roles in evangelization efforts—including Bishop Juan de Zumárraga receiving Our Lady of Guadalupe’s tilma from St. Juan Diego, and Father Juan de Padilla becoming the first martyr on U.S. soil.
“As I give thanks for the blessings of these past 15 years as archbishop, and as I prepare for the 25th anniversary of my ordination as a bishop on March 26, I find my thoughts returning to the deep spiritual ties that connect us with St. Francis and the movement he started at that little chapel in Assisi,” Gomez said.
He noted that Pope Leo XIV has declared this year a special Jubilee in honor of St. Francis’s legacy: “We are preparing here for our observance of this Jubilee, working with the many Franciscan communities, parishes, religious houses, and other institutions.” Updates will be available at lacatholics.org/year-of-st-francis/.
Gomez acknowledged current challenges facing society: “It is also, sadly, a moment of war and deep social divisions in our country, marked by suspicion, fear, and violence.” He quoted Pope Leo XIV: “Not because he offers technical solutions,” but because St. Francis’s life “points to the authentic source of peace.” Gomez concluded by encouraging prayerful reflection during this time: “As we reflect on his witness and teachings during this Jubilee Year, let us renew our commitment to bring the Lord’s peace into all of our relationships and to work to promote reconciliation and understanding among our neighbors.”
