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Archbishop William Levada
By Michael K. Jones

Pope Benedict XVI has named San Francisco Archbishop William Levada to the top Vatican post of "Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." This is the same post that was held by Pope Benedict (aka Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) since November 1981.

Born: June 15, 1936
Ordained a Priest: December 20, 1961 in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Appointed Bishop: March 29, 1983, Titular Bishop of Capri and Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles Ordained a Bishop: May 12, 1983
Appointed: July 1, 1986, Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
Appointed: August 17, 1995, Coadjutor Archbishop of San Francisco in California
Succeeded: December 27, 1995, Seventh Archbishop of San Francisco

Born in Long Beach CA. Levada's great-grandparents immigrated to the San Francisco Bay area from Portugal and Ireland in the 1860's. Upon completion of High School Levada spent four years of seminary college in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

In 1958, he was sent to pursue his seminary formation in Rome at the North American College, and took his graduate theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, receiving a post- ordination doctorate in sacred theology maqna cum laude.

After ordination as a priest in St. Peter's Basilica on December 20, 1961, he spent five years in parish work in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, including part-time high school teaching and college campus ministry. After receiving his doctorate, he taught theology at St. John's Seminary School of Theology.

In 1976, Levada was appointed an Official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican where he served for 6 years.

In 1982, he was assigned as Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference of Bishops in Sacramento.

1984, he served as Episcopal Vicar for Santa Barbara County until his 1986 appointment as Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia.

On July 1, 1986, Bishop Levada was appointed eighth Archbishop of Portland, Oregon, and was installed on September 21.

Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of San Francisco, Archbishop Levada was installed on October 24, 1995, and succeeded Archbishop John Quinn as seventh Archbishop of San Francisco on December 27, 1995.

May 13, 2005, announced by Pope Benedict as "Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith."

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