Controversial Cardinal Law retires from Santa Maria Maggiore - But did you know that this famous papal basilica was saved by a charismatic Welshman, Mgr Dilwyn Lewis?

Santa Maria Maggiore: Nave

It was announced earlier this week that the controversial former Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, had turned 80 at the beginning of the month and had therefore retired from his position as Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. His replacement has been named as 76-year-old Archbishop Santos Abril y Castello, who is also vice camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber and a former Vatican diplomat. Reading about the changes at this important church, one of the first ever dedicated to the Virgin Mary, reminded me of the fact that amongst the greatest Vicars Capitular of Santa Maria Maggiore was the Welsh speaking priest, Mgr Dilwyn Lewis. He effectively saved the 5th century Basilica during his tenure as its Administrator under Pope John Paul II.

Known as quite a colourful character, and not to everyone's liking, Dilwyn John David Lewis was born on 28 April 1924 in Bridgend, Glamorgan. After being abandoned on the steps of Cottage Homes on Merthyrmawr Road in Bridgend, Dilwyn Lewis was raised in a local orphanage. Upon leaving school, he felt an early calling to the Christian ministry and left South Wales to begin studies for the Anglican priesthood at Kelham College, near Southwell. His time at Kelham didn't last long, though, as he converted to Catholicism in 1947.

Unsure of his vocation once he had embraced the Catholic faith, the future Vicar Capitular of Santa Maria Maggiore ended up working for a textiles company in Bradford. After spending some years in sales, his gift for design was soon recognised and he eventually became a fashion designer, setting up his own business and moving to London in the 1950's. Working from his flat in Duke Street, Mayfair, Dilwyn Lewis sold his designs across Europe and eventually became both extremely successful and wealthy. Because of his need to travel for work, he also mastered several European languages.

During one business trip in 1960 Lewis met the future Pope Paul VI - Cardinal Montini, who was then Archbishop of Milan. It was Montini who first suggested to Lewis that he might wish to consider the priesthood. Several years elapsed, though, before Lewis finally took the plunge, offering himself to his old friend, Bishop David Cashman, as a seminarian for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. He was sent to the Beda in 1970, and was ordained to the priesthood at Arundel Cathedral in 1974.

The next few years saw Fr Dilwyn Lewis working as a chaplain for English speakers in Reggio Calabria and as a priest in various Sussex parishes. He was eventually appointed chaplain to Gatwick Airport, though, which proved to be providential for his future within the wider Church. When Pope John Paul II visited the UK in 1982, Fr Lewis, as chaplain to the airport, was amongst those delegated to meet him at Gatwick. He must have worked his charm during that brief meeting, for it seems that the Pope as well as his Nuncio, Archbishop Bruno Heim, and Cardinal Basil Hume decided there an then that Dilwyn Lewis was a man whose many gifts should be deployed for the greater good of the universal Church. Within two years of the papal visit, Dilwyn Lewis had been appointed a Canon of Santa Maria Maggiore by John Paul II himself.

After nearly 1,600 years as a Christian church, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was facing huge problems in 1984. The Roman authorities were threatening to close it, for it had become a fire risk, whilst the Basilica's ancient ceiling was deemed unsafe as it was in danger of collapsing. The church's 5th century mosaics were crumbling, whilst the interior was completely run down. Something needed to be done to save this immensely important church - built on the site of the miracle of Our Lady of the Snows by Pope Sixtus III as the papacy's way of affirming the title "Mother of God", which had recently been bestowed upon the Virgin Mary by the Council of Ephesus (AD 431).

The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us

The Basilica's Archpriest, Cardinal Luigi Dadaglio, immediately put the general administration and restoration works into the hands of Canon Dilwyn Lewis. And it soon became apparent to all that Lewis was an extremely capable administrator and fund-raiser. Within a short time, Pope John Paul II appointed him Vicar Capitular of the Basilica and he was also created a Protonotary Apostolic, with the title Monsignor. Some of the older members of the Basilica's staff were concerned at first, especially when it became apparent that their new administrator expected them to work! But within a few years, Mgr Dilwyn Lewis had completely restored Santa Maria Maggiore to its former glory. He had also raised over £9 million for the papal basilica and had transformed the church's liturgical life for the better - inviting some of the world's leading choirs to perform at Masses, and insisting on the highest standards of worship. During his time at the Santa Maria Maggiore, Dilwyn Lewis also became a great friend to those who worked as prostitutes around Rome's main railway station, only a few yards away from his church. He often spent as much money, if not more, on Rome's poor than he did on one of its most important buildings.

Needless to say, Dilwyn Lewis also had his faults - like all of us. He was often too forceful and dramatic, and sometimes indiscreet. He created enemies as well as friends, and many found his rages too much to bear. About 15 years ago, I remember watching a documentary about Mgr Lewis on the television, during which he - with casual cigarette in hand - openly confessed his weaknesses and also mentioned the fact that many Romans had been left bemused by his insistence that St David's Day should be kept at the Basilica - every 1 March he would even sing Hen Wlad fy Nhadau with great gusto after Solemn Mass at Santa Maria Maggiore!

Through over-work and stress, Mgr Lewis' health deteriorated rapidly during the late 1990's. He suffered many heart-attacks, though continued in his post at Santa Maria Maggiore. He died suddenly in Ireland, though, on 10 July 2000, a few days after preaching at the First Mass of a newly ordained priest he had met at the Irish College in Rome. His body was returned to Rome and Archpriest Cardinal Furno and the Chapter of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore celebrated his Requiem Mass. He was later laid to rest in the Basilica's Crypt - which also happens to be the burial place of St Jerome. Many popes are buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, too, including one of my own favourites, Pope St Pius V. Dilwyn Lewis left over £1 million to the Church in his will, and today Cottage Homes in Bridgend - where he was once found as an abandoned baby - has been renamed Lewis House.

Despite the fact that some found him difficult to get along with, there is no denying the fact that Dilwyn Lewis, the Welsh speaking former orphan from Bridgend, managed to save one of Catholicism's most important churches. Some crusty cardinals might not have approved of his style, but he was definitely appreciated and loved by Bl Pope John Paul II. In fact, it would be right to say that whole Catholic world owes him a huge debt of gratitude. May he rest in peace.

[Image: 1 Santa Maria Maggiore, interior; published under a Creative Commons Licence and attributed to Tango7174; source: Wikimedia Commons. 2 Relic of Our Lord's Manger, under the High Altar at Santa Maria Maggiore, my own work]