Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo. The Archdiocese of San Francisco was canonically erected on July 29, 1853 by Pope Pius IX and its cathedral is the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The first church in the Archd... more

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo. The Archdiocese of San Francisco was canonically erected on July 29, 1853 by Pope Pius IX and its cathedral is the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The first church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco is older than the Archdiocese itself, Mission San Francisco de Asís was founded on June 29, 1776 by Franciscan Friars. The mission church that stands today was completed in 1791 and attached next door is Mission Dolores Basilica. The Franciscans that founded Mission San Francisco de Asís also are credited with naming the City and County of San Francisco, and the entire region, after its patron, Saint Francis of Assisi. The archdiocese is currently led by Archbishop George Hugh Niederauer, who was formerly the bishop of... less