July 11, 2011. (Romereports.com) There's really no other city quite like Los Angeles- and no one knows this better than the city's Archbishop José Gómez. With over 5 million Catholics, he heads the biggest archdiocese in the United States.


Msgr. José Gómez
Archbishop of Los Angeles, Ca (USA)
“We have mass in 42 languages in the Archdiocese of  Los Angeles, so there are people from all over the world.”

In his recent visit to Rome, the Archbishop received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI. It's a religious garment of high prestige. As the Chairman of the Migration Committee of Catholic Bishops in the U.S. he also made a point to talk about diversity and immigration.

Msgr. José Gómez
Archbishop of Los Angeles, Ca(USA)
“It's so important for us to find a way that we can welcome immigrants as we have done in the U.S since the beginning of the country.”

But that's easier said than done. With over 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. The issue seems to be controversial in almost all social circles, especially in politics. In Los Angeles, 70 percent of Catholics are Latinos, and many are in the country illegally. Thousands have been deported, causing families to separate.
 
Msgr. José Gómez
Archbishop of Los Angeles, Ca (USA)
“So in the issue of immigration, my role is to bring to the consideration of Catholics in our country, what are the teachings of the Church in this matter.”

The Archbishop is an immigrant himself. He was born in Mexico, but he has family in the border state of Texas. His life, he says, has always been bi-cultural. Though many see immigration as a political issue, Gómez says, more than anything it's about human dignity.

Msgr. José Gómez
Archbishop of Los Angeles, Ca (USA)
“I don't know what the best solution is. I'm not a politician, I'm a pastor of souls, but I think it's important for us to accept and acknowledge that we have to find a solution for this reality we have in our country.”

It's not an easy topic to take on, but both sides agree that it's an issue that has been ignored for far too long.

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