Archbishop Gomez warmly welcomed in Los Angeles

Coadjutor Archbishop Jose Gomez.

Los Angeles, Calif., May 26, 2010 (CNA).- Archbishop Jose Gomez was officially welcomed at a Rite of Reception Mass in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on Wednesday, a move that officially begins his ministry within the southern California community.

Archbishop Gomez, currently the Coadjutor Archbishop of the L.A. Archdiocese, will succeed Cardinal Roger Mahony, who will retire at the age of 75 in February of next year.

An estimated 4,000 people, including 59 bishops and 411 priests, attended the multilingual celebration at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

“Today we recognize that Jesus is present in our midst as when he commissioned Peter,” Cardinal Mahony noted. “ As I near the end of my time of tending this corner of the vineyard, the shepherd's staff is being passed to Archbishop Gomez.”

“Mahony goes, Gomez comes, but Christ alone endures.”

Following Communion, Archbishop Gomez addressed the congregation, speaking of his pleasure at being in Los Angeles.

Switching fluidly between English and Spanish, Archbishop Gomez tearfully accepted the warm welcome and entrusted his ministry to Our Lady of Guadalupe.