San Diego Catholic Diocese planning services for Pope Francis
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego plans to hold masses next week to honor Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at age 88.
- In the meantime, the diocese is asking pastors to open churches for people to pay respects at their neighborhood parishes.
The big picture: Francis pushed the Catholic Church to the left, which satisfied Catholics seeking modernization but dismayed traditionalists, Axios' Sareen Habeshian and Avery Lotz report.
- Francis was released from the hospital on March 23 following treatment for double pneumonia after being admitted with bronchitis symptoms five weeks earlier.
What they're saying: "The Holy Father cared deeply for all of us, but especially for people living at the margins of our society," Bishop Michael Pham, San Diego's diocesan administrator, said in a written statement to Axios.
- "He was never afraid to speak out and remind us that we all share the gifts of God's love and mercy … . The Pope had a special affection for our border community, and always expressed concern for the immigrants who journeyed through it," he said.
- Several other local leaders shared tributes to the pope, including Mayor Todd Gloria, who called him a "humble leader, a voice for progress, and a champion for the vulnerable."
The intrigue: In January, Francis appointed Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, his progressive ally and then-bishop of San Diego, to lead the archdiocese of Washington, D.C. — one of the church's most prominent positions in America.
- McElroy is a vocal supporter of migrants, women and LBGTQ people in the church.
By the numbers: About a fifth (21%) of San Diego County residents identify as Catholic, per a survey conducted in 2023-24 by the Pew Research Center.
- That's a higher share than in the U.S. overall (19%), but smaller than across California (25%).
- San Francisco (24%) and Los Angeles (28%) metro areas have higher percentages of Catholics.
What's next: Here's how the Catholic Church will choose a new pope, and what to know about Pope Francis' funeral.