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 statements, homilies, op-eds, videos, memos, and more.

“The Contemplative Vocation: A Life of Service to the Church”
We gather today on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, in the midst of this penitential season, a time marked by repentance and fasting, somewhat of a somber tone as we… Read More
Bishops find Catholic disciples, evangelizers with ‘deep spiritual thirst’ on San Quentin death row
San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone said a recent daylong pastoral visit to death row at San Quentin State Prison with three other California bishops confirmed for him “there is… Read More
“Bearing the Light to Christ to the World through Prayer, Penance and Sacramental Life”
We are all making our pilgrimage through this holy season of Lent, Great Lent, in preparation for the Great Pasch, when we will joyfully celebrate Christ’s triumph over death: the… Read More
Dispensation for St. Patrick’s Day 2023
The following dispensation has been issued by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone for the Solemnity of St. Patrick within the Archdiocese of San Francisco, commuting the Friday abstinence obligation to Wednesday… Read More
“‘Divide and Conquer’ or ‘Unite and Prevail’? Learning the Lessons of Lent”
It is a joy for us to welcome you, and it is a joy for me personally to thank those of you who have accompanied these brothers and sisters of… Read More
“Passing the Desert Test by Using the Disciplines of Lent”
In keeping with the Church’s ancient tradition, we begin the season of Lent by hearing about the story of our Lord retreating into the desert to spend forty days in… Read More
“LOURDES: THE JOURNEY FROM SICKNESS TO HEALTH, FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT, FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN”
Lourdes is a place of the journey from sickness to health, spiritual as well as physical; a journey from darkness to light; a journey from the suffering of this earth… Read More
The lives you impact through your support of the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal
Dear Friends in Christ: One of the many blessings of being Catholic is the great richness and diversity of the heritage of our faith tradition: 2,000 years of saints and… Read More
Honoring Our Lady of Lourdes: a new healing mass for a broken world
We all need healing. We all suffer. We all sin. We need forgiveness from each other, and most of all from the Lord God who made us to love and… Read More
Statement by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone on care for Laguna Honda Hospital patients
In response to the prospect of transferring infirm and elderly Laguna Honda Hospital patients due to regulatory and funding concerns, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone released the following statement. “Since the… Read More
Archbishop Cordileone blesses Half Moon Bay crime sites, reclaims them in prayer as “places of peace.”
San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone traveled to Half Moon Bay on Jan. 27 to acknowledge the lives lost and families fractured in a deadly workplace shooting Jan. 23.

Homilies by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone

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.