Catholic San Francisco

The ritual of welcoming Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone to San Francisco will be visibly symbolized by the rector opening the bronze doors of St. Mary's Cathedral to the archbishop.

Once the rector, Msgr. John Talesfore, has opened the doors, Archbishop Cordileone will be greeted by the papal nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, and by Archbishop George Niederauer, archbishop emeritus of San Francisco and currently apostolic administrator of San Francisco. The installation will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the archdiocese.

Archbishop Cordileone will reverence the crucifix with a kiss, descend to the baptismal font to bless himself, and ascend from the font to bless those gathered around him. He will then process to the front of the cathedral and enter the sanctuary at the heart of the cathedral.

Msgr. C. Michael Padazinski, chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, will read the letter from Pope Benedict XVI appointing Archbishop Cordileone to the metropolitan see. After the Apostolic Letter is read, the people will acclaim "Thanks be to God."

At the conclusion of the reading of the Apostolic Letter, Archbishop Vigano will rise from the cathedra, or archbishop's chair, approach Archbishop Cordileone and escort him to the foot of the steps in front of the cathedra. Archbishop Cordileone will ascend the steps and take his seat. Once Archbishop Cordileone sits in the cathedra he has formally assumed his place as archbishop of San Francisco.

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