Memorial Mass Honors Pope Francis, Celebrates His Legacy of Encounter and Unity
By Mary Powers
More than 300 people gathered at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on April 30 for a Memorial Mass for Pope Francis celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. The Mass was a moment of prayerful unity during the Church’s nine-day mourning period following the late Pontiff’s funeral and burial in Rome.
Representatives from across the Archdiocese and the wider community attended, including Matthew Goudeau, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Lurie; student leaders from Good Shepherd School in Pacifica; Catholic school administrators; and a diverse group of interfaith leaders. Archbishop Cordileone noted that their presence reflected the universal impact of Pope Francis’s moral and spiritual leadership.
“We’re so grateful, so many have gathered,” said the Archbishop in his homily. “It’s good that we come together and pray at a moment such as this—especially for our Catholic family, but also for the whole world.”
The Archbishop highlighted Pope Francis’s deep commitment to dialogue and understanding across religious and cultural lines. He praised the San Francisco Interfaith Council for embodying these values, recognizing the presence of its Executive Director Michael Pappas and other interfaith representatives from the Jewish, Muslim, Episcopal, and Brahma Kumaris communities.
Drawing a historical parallel, Archbishop Cordileone noted the significance of celebrating the Mass on the feast of Pope Pius V—buried in the same basilica as Pope Francis—at a time of transformation in global history. He reflected on how the world has changed over the past 500 years and how Pope Francis emphasized the enduring importance of human encounter in an increasingly interconnected, yet divided, world.
“This is the lesson I hope we can all learn from Pope Francis: The human encounter which seeks understanding in a way of self-sacrificial love,” he said. “This is what leads us in the way of truth, light and a more humane society. Living this lesson is the greatest honor we can give to his memory.”
Sixteen Student Council members from Good Shepherd School in Pacific attended the Mass. They shared with Catholic San Francisco that they were surprised by Pope Francis’s death, as he had recently participated in Easter events in Rome. They reflected on his love and compassion for the poor and were moved by the presence of Interfaith Council members praying in solidarity with the Catholic Church.
“We have spoken to the students about really focusing on this Jubilee Year of Hope but remembering that mercy is very important,” said Good Shepherd principal Gustavo Torres. “I think that sums up the papacy of Pope Francis. He was a person of mercy. He was a man of great faith, but he walked the walk. He preached and then he did what he preached. I think that he’s a great example of what our young people can live up to today. I thought it was important that we came here today to honor him.”
