Archbishop Gomez Pens Pastoral Letter on Guadalupe Anniversary

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles released a pastoral letter titled “The Wonder of America” to prepare Catholics for the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2031. The 20,000-word document, dated September 8, 2026, calls for spiritual renewal and a new missionary awakening across the Americas.

Archbishop Gomez describes the apparitions as the true origin story for the United States and other nations in the Americas. He writes that the event helps explain God's original intentions for these continents and provides a way to understand the ongoing mission of the Church in the region.

The title of the letter comes from the 18th-century Mexican painter Don Miguel Cabrera, who referred to the Guadalupe tilma as the "Maravilla Americana" or "The Wonder of America." This letter is the third pastoral letter written by Archbishop Gomez since he began his leadership in Los Angeles in 2010.