Mar 23, 2006 4:57 pm US/Eastern
Archbishop O'Malley's Well-Kept Secret
Which Roman Church Will He Head?
by Lisa Hughes
(CBS4)
Thursday was a busy day behind closed doors for cardinal-designate Sean O'Malley. He spent about 12 hours at the Vatican, in private meetings with the pope and other cardinals.
We know most of what will happen during Friday morning's consistory, when 15 new cardinals, including O'Malley, will be elevated.
There is one well kept secret. Which church in Rome will the pope assign to Cardinal O'Malley? It is largely symbolic but is an important part of the ceremony. Every cardinal is named the titular head of a church in Rome, though they have only a couple small responsibilities.
Archbishop Sean O'Malley found out earlier this week which church he would head, but he isn't saying.
What we do know, is that for almost 50 years, Boston cardinals have been assigned to the church of St. Susanna. It is known as the home of the American Catholic Church in Rome.
"It was the first church in Rome to have electricity, the first church in Rome to have pews," says Father Greg Apparcel, rector at St. Susanna.
The church has been a part of the Boston family since 1958 "Beginning with Cardinal Cushing, then Cardinal Medeiros, and finally with Cardinal Law, St. Susanna has been our titular church," said Father Apparecel.
Will Sean O'Malley follow his predecessors here? Father Apparecel says he is in the dark. "I really don't know. I have not heard anything."
Right now St. Susanna is assigned to Cardinal Law, and it would be highly unusual for the Vatican to take that church away. We will find out for sure during Friday's consistory.
You can watch Friday morning's consistory live on CBS4 and cbs4boston.com at 4:30 am.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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