Msgr. Lopez-Gallo was pastor, judicial vicar, columnist

(This article was updated Jan. 2 to provide additional Mass and service details.)

Monsignor Pedro Lopez-Gallo, Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29, in the North Vancouver Hospice at the age of 92.

Born in Mexico, Msgr. Lopez-Gallo recently celebrated his 68th anniversary of ordination. He was pastor of St. Pius X Parish in North Vancouver from 1986 to 2013.

A former secretary to Cardinal Eugene Tisserant, Dean of the College of Cardinals during the Second Vatican Council, Msgr. Lopez-Gallo was an internationally respected canon lawyer. He was the founder of St. Pius X Elementary and a regular columnist for The B.C. Catholic for more than 20 years.

He served in the Archdiocese of Vancouver for 33 years, beginning in 1986.  He had been the Judicial Vicar of the Vancouver Regional Tribunal since 1991.

The Pontifical Funeral Mass for Msgr. Lopez-Gallo will be celebrated Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Cathedral. A reception will follow at Rosary Hall. (The parish is reserving buses from the church to the cathedral for the convenience of elderly St. Pius X parishioners who might have difficulty getting to the funeral Mass. Seats must be reserved by calling the parish.)

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, two Masses will be offered at St. Pius X Church for the convenience of parishioners unable to attend Wednesday’s funeral Mass. The first Mass is at 10:30 a.m. for students at parish schools. The second is in the evening after 6 p.m. vespers for the deceased. The Mass will be at 6:30 p.m., with a light reception afterward.

Msgr. Lopez-Gallo’s interment will take place Sunday, Jan. 12, at the parish columbarium following the 11 a.m. Mass.

His health had declined rapidly in recent weeks and he was moved into hospice care at Lions Gate Hospital earlier this month.

His final B.C. Catholic column, entitled Heaven, God’s abode, appeared April 20, 2019.