The pope’s election coincides with an era that is fraught with war and rising global authoritarianism. He takes the helm of a church with 53 million Catholics in the U.S. and 1.4 million in San Diego and Imperial counties, at a time when religious affiliation in the U.S. is stabilizing after years of decline.

San Diegans joined in as Catholic faithful across the world celebrated the election of a new pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first United States-born pope in the 2,000-year church’s

The first American pope celebrated Mass at St. Augustine High School for its 90th anniversary in the 2012-2013 school year.