Pope Leo sends message to San Francisco celebrating Franciscan mission’s 250th anniversary

(OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV has congratulated the city of San Francisco as it marks the 250th anniversary of the Franciscan mission at the heart of the city’s founding. In a message dated Oct. 1, the pope sent “greetings of good wishes” to San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, civic leaders and city residents as they commemorate the founding of Misión San Francisco de Asís on Oct. 9, 1776. Pope Leo’s message was delivered by Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the U.S. and shared by the Archdiocese of San Francisco Oct. 9. The mission is one of 21 missions established by Franciscan missionaries and Native Californians in the territory known as Alta California and ruled by Spain. Nine of the chain of missions, which traced the California coast, were founded under the direction of St. Junipero Serra. Several of the sites, among them San Francisco, later became some of California’s major cities.

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