The centuries-old ritual began just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday with the tolling of bells, launching a processional down the center aisle of the Spanish-style cathedral in downtown Salt Lake City. Blue, green, gold and white plumed Knights of Columbus led the way, followed by religious women, and Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre dressed in black.

The choir filed in and filled the cathedral with song as deacons and priests entered in twos, stepped up onto the platform and bent to kiss the altar. Most wore simple black shoes. Others opted for Birkenstocks and cowboy boots.

Wester, waiting his turn with Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco while others filed in, laughed and chatted and claimed he wasn't nervous - yet.

Then his face grew solemn.

The sanctuary fell silent as the 1,500 invitation-only crowd awaited the knock that would mark Wester's entry. Only a crying baby, and the ensuing giggles, broke the quiet anticipation. With the clang of a bell, the crowd stood to face the back.

Wester went around to the cathedral's front doors and rapped three times and Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake, welcomed him inside. People all around snapped photos with their cell phones and Wester proceeded into the sanctuary, sprinkling holy water up and down the aisles.

Utah's new bishop winked and smiled at family members who had come from San Francisco. He passed LDS Church officials Thomas S. Monson and M. Russell Ballard, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, Episcopal Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish and Rev. France Davis of Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City.

Also in attendance were more than 50 bishops, archbishops and cardinals - Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles and Cardinal Theodore McKerrick from Washington, D.C. In addition to all the dignitaries, dozens of Wester's friends and fellow priests made the trip from San Francisco, where Wester has lived all of his 56 years.

The Rev. Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States, read a letter from Pope Benedict XVI appointing Wester the spiritual leader to Utah's nearly 200,000 Catholics.

In remarks and in reading the pope's letter, Sambi counseled Wester to "radiate the face of Christ to all those entrusted to his care."

As Sambi concluded, applause erupted throughout the cathedral. The appointment was official. Niederauer, who was Utah's eighth Catholic bishop, escorted Wester to the bishop's ornate chair and handed him his bishop's crosier, or staff. That was followed by a standing ovation.

"Take a deep breath, not you but me," Wester said as he stood at the pulpit for the first time, eliciting a laugh from the audience.

He thanked his mother, brother and two sisters for being there and then became quite emotional when noting that his father, who died in 1999, also was present.

"He was also a crier," Wester quickly joked. "Thanks, Dad."

In his prepared sermon, Wester went back and forth between English and Spanish, recognizing that more than half of Utah's Catholics are Spanish speakers. He described the relationship between a bishop and his diocese as a "friendship marked by service, by giving of ourselves to others in selflessness and imitation of the one who first loves us."

"I am here to ask for your friendship, a friendship that will enhance my closeness to the Lord," Wester said. "I am called to make new friends with you, the priests, the women and men religious, deacons, seminarians and faithful of the Catholic Church in Utah. I am also called to develop rich new friendships with my brothers and sisters in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as with so many others throughout the state."

Several potential friends delivered the Prayers of the Faithful in seven different languages. Ofa Johansson of Salt Lake City was dressed in a red taovala, a traditional Tongan outfit featuring seashells, feathers, large sequins and a grass skirt, something worn for special occasions and to show respect. Lucy Kim of Sandy wore the Korean hanbok, a flowing gown worn at weddings, and Peter Deng of Salt Lake City - who would address the cathedral crowd in Sudanese Nuer - sported a traditional African headcovering.

Emotions ran high as Wester's family walked slowly to the front to present him with the wine, water and wafers to the lofty sounds of a hymn composed for the occasion. His brother, Barry Wester, briefly teared up, too.

The three-hour ceremony "was very inspirational," said Monson, of the governing LDS First Presidency. "We are dear friends [with the Catholics]. We work together."

Huntsman said he expects Wester will make a significant contribution to the life of Utah, given his "youth, intelligence and great compassion."

Bishop William Weigand, Utah's seventh bishop who now heads the Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., said the ceremony was eloquent and it made him want to cry.

"I wondered why I ever said yes to leaving Salt Lake City," he said. "There's something simple and authentic about life in Utah. It gets in your blood. It makes me nostalgic. Maybe I'll retire here . . ."

As for Wester, Weigand said, "he'll be greatly enriched by his experience here. You ought to keep him awhile."

pstack@sltrib.com, jravitz@sltrib.com