R.I.P. Cardinal William J. Levada
September 26, 2019
Cardinal Roger Mahony
Today we are all saddened as
we learned of the sudden death of His Eminence, Cardinal William J.
Levada. He was well known to all of us
here in Los Angeles, as well in the various Archdioceses in which he served, as
well as his time as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.
Cardinal
Levada was a dear friend and seminary classmate. He joined our class at St. John’s Seminary
following his graduation from St. Anthony’s High School in Long Beach, along
with two other classmates from that school:
Msgr. Anthony Leuer, and Archbishop George Niederauer, both deceased.
After
finishing his seminary college courses, he was sent by Cardinal McIntyre to the
North American College in Rome where he finished his theology courses. Ordained in December 1961, he subsequently
received his doctorate in Sacred Theology in Rome.
He
served on the staff of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the
guidance of then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
He
served in various roles in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as the
Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference.
Cardinal
Levada was the essential Churchman. His
entire life was focused upon his life with Jesus Christ, and the good of the
Church in every possible realm.
He
was named Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles in 1983, and served as the Regional
Bishop in Santa Barbara.
Then
Bishop Levada and the late Bishop John Ward headed a special Task Force for me
after my Installation in Los Angeles as Archbishop to develop our Regional
System for the Archdiocese. Their plan
was adopted, and the five Pastoral Regions were created, along with four
Deaneries in each Pastoral Region.
In
1986 then Bishop Levada was named the Archbishop of Portland, Oregon, where he
served for some nine years.
In
1995 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of San Francisco and succeeded to
the See that same year.
When
Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, he selected then
Archbishop Levada to serve as his successor as the Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith. He also
served as the President of the International Theological Commission, and
President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and later, as President of the
Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.
After being created a Cardinal in 2006, his Titular Church in Rome was
Santa Maria in Domnica.
Upon
reaching the age of 76 years, he retired from all of his Vatican responsibilities. He then remained very active giving many
learned presentations in various places around the world. He was sought after for his knowledge and
vast experience in all matters theological.
Cardinal
Bill was a dear and long-time friend, and I shall miss him greatly. Our Ordination Class of 1962 remained very
close over the years, gathering at least once a year formally, and at many
other times as well. Our class was
blessed to have four Bishops over the years:
Cardinal William Levada, Archbishop George Niederauer, and Bishop Tod
Brown, and myself.
We
always enjoyed each other’s company and priestly fraternity, and supported each
other in our priestly ministry constantly.
Our Class believed deeply in the value of priestly fraternity, and lived
it out fully.
Cardinal
William Levada, the eminent Churchman, devoted his entire life to the life and
well being of the Church, nationally and internationally. There was no issue involving the Church that
eluded his care and concern—theological issues, ecclesiological issues, and any
issue which touched the Church across the globe in any way.
May
God open wide his arms to embrace our beloved brother, Cardinal Bill, as he
enters the fullness of life in God’s Kingdom!
