Posted on 03/27/2006 11:06:41 AM PST by NYer
Cardinal William Levada took possession of his titular church Sunday in the heart of the Italian capital, where he was greeted by a crowd of cheering faithful and pilgrims - many of them Americans.
Levada, who was elevated to cardinal during Friday's consistory, was assigned to the St. Mary in Domnica church where he held a festive two-hour-long Mass.
"I'm very delighted of being titular of this basilica, a parish in this historical zone in the city of Rome," he said at the beginning of his homily. "I hope to be able to come here often."
St. Mary's in Domnica, also known as the Church of the Navicella (which means 'little boat') because of the boat-like fountain in front of it, lies on top of the Celian hill, one of Rome's Seven Hills.
The 15 new cardinals were each assigned a titular church in Rome to cement their links to the Eternal City.
The other new U.S. Cardinal, Sean O'Malley of Boston, was assigned to the St. Mary of Victory church, but he was not expected to take possession of it during his current stay.
During his homily, Levada - who spoke English, Italian and some Latin - read passages from Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, "God is Love," in which the pontiff highlighted principles of love and charity.
"Charity is not for the Church a sort of activity of social assistance that could be also left to others but it belongs to its nature, it is an expression of its essence that cannot be given up," Levada said.
Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony also attended the ceremony, which hosted a large number of faithful from Levada's former archdioceses of San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.
"He's going to bring a lot of good to the Church, he probably will open the door to fresh air," said Charlotte Bayer, a retired secretary from San Francisco who traveled to Rome with a group of pilgrims to attend the consistory.
"He will listen to the parishioners, be more attentive, more at lay people level, rather than being aloof."
Levada, born in Long Beach, Calif., was a priest, auxiliary bishop and chancellor in the Los Angeles Archdiocese before becoming archbishop of Portland and then San Francisco.
He took over Benedict's old job as prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's chief doctrinal watchdog, last May.
What's the surprise?
Nice fiddleback.
And is that a Maniple on his left arm?
Perhaps he's realized his mistakes?
What's this about a fiddleback? I must not know about them. Can someone clue me in?
It was pulled for the language you mentioned. Please rephrase and repost.
I mean, literally.
When he was in SF recently and amidst the Amchurch rabble for Niederauer's installation, he wore his stole over his chasuble. When he's in Rome he dresses as a traditionalist. When he was Archbishop of SF, he allowed gay adoptions. Now he's in Rome, he prohibits them.
He's a real study in contradictions. Definitely a work in progress, for sure. As we all are, of course.
Too bad the first photo of a pious and traditional looking Levada is spoiled by a "half-Mahony" peeking out from the right-hand side. He's everywhere, aint he?
Thanks for that link.
The surprise is that Cardinal Levada is wearing fiddlebacks, which went out of style the minute that the Novus Ordo was promulgated, if not sooner. His apparently deliberate choice to ignore, in this instance, the highly simplified "Gothic-style" chasuble seen nearly everywhere nowadays "might" be seen as some sort of wink and nod to previous traditions. Personally, I doubt that is the case, but it is possible to construe something along those lines. Even so, for the cardinal to choose this type of vestment over the "wheatstalk and cup" modern alternatives, knowing the speculation it would be sure to engender, is surprising in itself.
It would be nice if Benedict XVI would suppress the ugly post-Vatican II neo-Gothic vestments in favor of the fiddlebacks.
Much clearer now, thanks!
The Church of S.Maria in Domnica was full for the taking posession by its new Cardinal Titular, William Cardinal Levada. Parishioners and Americans mixed to welcome the new holder of this title.
The ceremony itself is quite simple - Cardinal Levada arrived at the Church in choral dress at 5pm. He was greeted at the door of the church by the Pastor who offered him a cross to kiss and holy water with which to bless the faithful.
He then processed to the Blessed Sacrament altar and knelt there in prayer for a few moments. Then he retired to the sacristy and vested for Mass. 
Then, along with the servers (from the North American College), concelebrants (including several bishops and Cardinals) and two American deacons he re-entered the Church to celebrate Mass.
After the opening greeting, the Bull appointing him to the Church was read in Italian by the pastor of the Church and in English by the Cardinal's secretary, Fr Stephen Lopes.
Then, Mass progressed as normal in Latin, with readings in English and Italian. I'm not sure who the choir were - I think I recognised one or two CDF officials amongst them. The mass setting used was the delightful 'Missa Dixit Maria' by Hassler. (Mental Note - Get a CD of this.)
The Cardinal preached simply in (workmanlike) Italian and in English, particularly focusing on the church's link with St Laurence and the Holy Father's presentation of the role of charity within the Church in Deus Caritas Est. 
The last man in Levada's office to hold the title of S.Maria in Domnica was Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani. Henri Cardinal de Lubac also held that title.
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