Saints Peter & Paul Church, A Celestial White Beacon in the City
666 Filbert St
4.1
Introduction
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul, located at 666 Filbert St in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, is a Roman Catholic church managed by the Salesians and is known as the "Italian cathedral of the West". It has hosted some secular ceremonies and weddings, most famously the scene where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio returned for photos after their wedding here in 1954. However, DiMaggio had previously married Dorothy Arnold here on November 19, 1939, but they later divorced. Although he never obtained an annulment, the Catholic Church recognized their marriage as valid, and he could not remarry in a Catholic church. A photo of DiMaggio and Arnold's wedding is displayed near a small door in the church, not that of him and Monroe. DiMaggio passed away here on March 11, 1999, and his funeral was held here. The Salesian priest Al Mengon oversaw the funeral and respected DiMaggio's wishes by not discussing his personal life or accepting any interviews. 
The church where Marilyn Monroe got married
