L.A. Archbishop Holds 'Mass for Peace' as Students Protest Trump Immigration Policies

Archbishop José H. Gomez, the highest-ranking Latino bishop in the U.S., leads a service calling for peace and praying for immigrants as student protesters gather nearby.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:31pm

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Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated a 'Mass for Peace' at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Wednesday, as hundreds of student protesters gathered nearby to demonstrate against the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement efforts. Gomez called on God to 'awaken again the conscience of Americans' and prayed for the country's leaders, law enforcement, and immigrant families. The mass coincided with a student walkout, with teen protesters converging on the Metropolitan Detention Center about a mile away.

Why it matters

The mass and protests highlight the growing tensions between the Catholic Church and the Trump administration over immigration policies. As the largest archdiocese in the U.S. with a majority Latino congregation, the Los Angeles church has been at the forefront of the debate, with some clergy members joining protests while the archdiocese leadership has taken a more muted approach.

The details

During the mass, Archbishop Gomez stopped short of directly appealing to the Trump administration to scale back its immigration enforcement, but he called on God to 'awaken again the conscience of Americans.' As police helicopters monitored the nearby student protest, more than 500 teens gathered at the intersection of Aliso and Los Angeles streets and marched to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where a swarm of police stood behind yellow caution tape.

  • The mass was held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
  • The student protest took place concurrently with the mass.

The players

Archbishop José H. Gomez

The archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the highest-ranking Latino bishop in the United States.

Isaac Cuevas

The senior director of life, justice and peace for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Lupita Sanchez

A Franciscan nun who joined the mass on Wednesday.

Rosa Manriquez

A Catholic activist who criticized the archdiocese's response to the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Pope Leo XIV

The current Pope who has forcefully condemned the Trump administration's aggressive immigration tactics.

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What they’re saying

“We are united with everybody in our country praying for peace, and specifically praying for immigrants in our country.”

— Archbishop José H. Gomez (Los Angeles Times)

“I don't know if anyone's OK with what's happening right now. We shouldn't be these kinds of people.”

— Isaac Cuevas, Senior Director of Life, Justice and Peace, Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Times)

“The clergy who are the boots on the ground were out there from Day One, not only doing charity but working for justice. We now have quite a few bishops and cardinals coming out and being present, which is very important. As far as our archdiocese is concerned — not so much.”

— Rosa Manriquez, Catholic Activist (Los Angeles Times)

“To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering. We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”

— U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Los Angeles Times)

“The only way that we can help the world is by praying.”

— Lupita Sanchez, Franciscan Nun (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has indicated that it will continue to advocate for immigration reform and support immigrant communities, though the specific next steps are unclear. The student protesters are expected to continue their demonstrations against the Trump administration's policies.

The takeaway

This event highlights the growing divide between the Catholic Church and the Trump administration over immigration, with the Los Angeles archdiocese and its predominantly Latino congregation taking a more vocal stance against the administration's aggressive tactics. It also underscores the role of faith leaders and youth activists in challenging the government's approach to immigration enforcement.