Pope Leo XIV sends message to San Francisco for 250th anniversary of Franciscan mission

Pope Leo XIV sent a message of congratulations to San Francisco to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of Mission San Francisco de Asís. In the message dated Oct. 1, the pope offered good wishes to Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, civic leaders, and city residents commemorating the mission's establishment on Oct. 9, 1776.

Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, delivered the message, which the Archdiocese of San Francisco shared on Oct. 9. The pope expressed thanks to God for blessings over the past 250 years and requested that the local community grow in unity, harmony, and care for the poor and the vulnerable.

Mission San Francisco de Asís, also called Mission Dolores, is the sixth of 21 missions established by Franciscan missionaries and Native Californians in Alta California. The archdiocese identifies the site as the oldest intact adobe mission chapel in the network and the oldest intact building in San Francisco. While Father Francisco Palóu celebrated the first Mass in the original chapel on June 29, 1776, St. Junipero Serra formally dedicated the mission on Oct. 9 of that year.