Our Archbishop

Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone

Archbishop of San Francisco

Salvatore Cordileone was appointed the Archbishop of San Francisco on July 27, 2012, and was installed on October 4, 2012, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption.

Since then, he has led the faithful of San Francisco with steadfast determination.

Latest from the Archbishop

Read Archbishop’s latest homilies, op-eds, statements, memos, and more.

“Living the Double Commandment to be Formed More Perfectly into the Image of Christ”
Homily for the Respect Life Essay Contest Mass, St. Mary’s Cathedral
A sign of contradiction
Archbishop Cordileone’s column for the 2024 Lent/Easter issue of Catholic San Francisco magazine.
“The Only Way Up Is Down”
Homily for Palm Sunday, St. Mary’s Cathedral
“Free to Be Light, Strength, Healing and Consecration for the World”
Homily for the 2020 Chrism Mass, St. Mary’s Cathedral
“Lent and the Lesson of True Equal Human Dignity”
Sermon for First Passion Sunday, Epiphany Parish, Tampa, FL
“Honoring God, Remembering Our Heroes, and Preserving the Soul of Our Culture”
Homily, Requiem Mass for the Forgotten, Epiphany Parish, Miami, FL

The coat of arms

The coat of arms of Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone celebrates the line of fishermen in his family. It presents a red crab against a silver background and a demi-lion with red claws holding a heart to honor the family name, Cordileone, which means “heart of a lion” from a literal translation of cor di leone.

The banner at the bottom includes his motto, “In Verbo Tuo,” translated, “At Your Word,” recalling the Gospel story of the apostles casting their nets at the Lord’s urging after fishing all night and catching nothing. Peter lets down the net on the strength of Christ’s command. “And Simon answered: ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5)

Archbishop’s Circle

The Archbishop’s Circle consists of over eighty households representing about 110 individuals. Circle members support special programs identified by Archbishop Cordileone. Without the support of the Circle members, these initiatives would not be funded.

Support Archbishop Cordileone and his vision by funding special programs and initiatives

The Archbishop’s First Pastoral Letter

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jer 1:5). A young Jeremiah heard the Lord speak these words to him over 2500 years ago. In these times in which we are living, the scourge of abortion ignores the reality that humans are made in the image of God, known and beloved by God. This pastoral letter addresses all Catholics, but especially Catholics in public life, calling for deep reflection on the evil of abortion and on the meaning of receiving Holy Communion, the Bread of Life.