SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco is getting a new Roman Catholic archbishop, and a lot of eyes will be on the 56-year-old priest who will assume the stone ceremonial seat at St. Mary's Cathedral during a three-hour installation mass.
Salvatore Joseph Cordileone has served as bishop of neighboring Oakland for the last three-and-a-half years. He has a nationwide reputation as a fierce defender of the Catholic Church's opposition to same-sex marriage.
Cordileone's stance has endeared him to fellow Catholic conservatives. But more liberal Catholics are worried about that part of his resume, including his role in promoting California's same-sex marriage ban.
His induction ceremony on Thursday afternoon is expected to be witnessed by 2,000 people, including the Vatican's ambassador to the U.S.
Gay demonstrators have said they hope to get their voices heard amid the event's heavy security.
