By Francisco Valdez
Writer & Photographer for CSF Magazine
Generous international donors funded its construction and installation
A bronze sculpture of Saint Francis of Assisi was unveiled Sunday, Aug. 16, at the plaza of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, giving the patron saint of the Archdiocese of San Francisco a prominent presence at the cathedral on the 800th anniversary year of his death.
The sculpture depicts Saint Francis with his hands gently embracing the world. Reliefs on the base portray the sun and moon, evoking the saint’s Canticle of the Creatures and his reverence for creation.
The unveiling and blessing took place after a solemn Mass celebrated at the cathedral, where Rector and Pastor Father Kevin Kennedy reflected on why Saint Francis remains such a powerful figure for the Church.
In his homily, Father Kennedy recalled that Pope Pius XI, writing in 1926 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Francis’ death, described him as an alter Christus, or “another Christ,” because Francis sought to imitate Christ’s poverty, humility and merciful love.
Francis, Father Kennedy said, embodied a love that was not simply compassionate but sacrificial—a love extended particularly to the poor, the sick, the dying and those most in need.
Deacon Christoph Sandoval, who has served at the cathedral under four archbishops and acted as communication facilitator between all parties, said parishioners and visitors had often asked why Saint Francis did not have a significant presence in the cathedral plaza.
That possibility emerged through a connection with Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmalz, who had created a miniature display model of the Saint Francis sculpture but had not yet produced it on a larger scale.
Schmalz reached out to the Archbishop of San Francisco, who requested that Father Kevin Kennedy, Father Jerald Geronimo and Deacon Christoph Sandoval from the cathedral meet with the sculptor for a conversation about the possibility of bringing a sculpture to San Francisco.
What followed was a collaboration that extended well beyond the artist and cathedral.
When it became clear that the cathedral did not have the resources to simply purchase and install such a large sculpture, Deacon Sandoval said the conversation took a different direction.
International donors and supporters of the project helped make the work possible, while the project itself drew on the generosity and expertise of people and companies in San Francisco who donated their professional services.
Among those who stepped forward were companies connected to the history of the cathedral itself.
The cathedral was built by Cahill Contractors, who brought together a team of three companies and engineering professionals to help bring the sculpture to the plaza.
“They all came aboard, and they offered their work pro bono,” Deacon Sandoval said.
Sheedy Crane and KPFF Consulting Engineers also contributed their expertise.
Sandoval said the collaboration brought together some of the city’s most experienced construction and engineering professionals for a project that required careful planning and specialized equipment.
“We got the best in the city,” he said.
The sculpture also reflects the character Father Kennedy emphasized in his homily: a Church that welcomes people of different cultures, nations, generations and backgrounds.
The cathedral, Father Kennedy said, gathers people “as one family,” with Saint Francis offering an image of the universal embrace at the center of that community.
The image is especially fitting for a saint whose life was defined by humility, poverty, mercy and a willingness to go toward those who were most vulnerable.
Now, in the plaza of San Francisco’s mother church, Francis appears to hold the world itself in his arms.
As the Archdiocese of San Francisco continues observing the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’ death throughout 2026, the statue offers a permanent visual reminder of the saint whose name is woven into the identity of the city and its Catholic community.
