"Usque ad Sanguinis Effusionem"

WITL ^ | November 24, 2007 | Rocco Palmo

[NYer]

"For you must be willing to conduct yourselves with fortitude, even to the shedding of your blood..."

That's the significance of cardinal red, and in the moment immediately before the conferral of the scarlet birette, it is the heart of the traditional exhortation given the college's new intake by the Pope.

The ceremony has begun, with more of a flair than most recent consistories have had -- keen evidence that, in the lace-clad Msgr Guido Marini, there's indeed a new MC in town. For the first time in memory, the white-upholstered modern Popechair has been laid aside for a liturgical celebration in Rome, replaced today by a gilt, antique papal throne called in from the Vatican back-stock. Similarly, B16's ditched the customary choir-dress to vest in a similarly old-style golden mitre with matching cope (and morse).

Formally "publishing" the biglietto or "ticket" of creation at the consistory's start, the papal reading of the new cardinals' names attracted applause from most of their attendant pilgrimages. The louder cheers came from, among others, the delegations for Cardinals Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa; Sean Brady of Armagh; Francisco Robles Garcia of Monterey, Mexico, Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Angelo Comastri, the archpriest of St Peter's, whose pilgrims began the applause and shouting.

In an unusually pointed iteration of the traditional "thank you" address on behalf of the entire group, new Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches cited the elevation of the patriarch of the Chaldeans, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, to underscore at some length the shedding of "tears and blood" in Iraq, "the land of Abraham."

The appeal by the veteran diplomat -- the first-ranked of the new class -- garnered a mid-speech ovation from the packed basilica crowd, estimated at 7,000.

For his part, the Pope himself echoed Sandri's sentiments in his homily.

Singling out only Delly by name among his appointees, Benedict XVI said his elevation of the 80 year-old Eastern hierarch was intended to convey, "in a concrete way," his own "spiritual closeness and affection" and "the solidarity of the whole church" with Iraq's suffering Christian community.

The pontiff also noted that the conflict continues to yield a political situation which is "as fragile as ever."

-30-

[NYer]

AP - Sat Nov 24, 8:00 AM ET Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A., talks with Pope Benedict XVI after receiving the red three-cornered biretta hat during a consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007. Pope Benedict XVI elevated 23 churchmen from around the world to the top ranks of the Catholic Church hierarchy Saturday, telling them they must be willing to shed their blood to spread the Christian faith. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

[Jaded]

When Houston was raised to an Archdiocese in 2004 a deacon friend of mine stated that you had to be an archbishop to be a cardinal and that it would be DiNardo. God Bless Cardinal Daniel DiNardo!

[PA Lurker]

All of us in the Pittsburgh area are rejoicing for the elevation of Cardinal DiNardo. The faithful in the Houston/Galveston diocese are very fortunate to have this man as their shepherd.

I can personally attest that this man is a very powerful evangelist and he will draw many souls to Christ as well as bring many young men into priestly vocations.

[Salvation]

Thanks, I was waiting for a thread about the 23 new cardinals.

[NYer]

I can personally attest that this man is a very powerful evangelist and he will draw many souls to Christ as well as bring many young men into priestly vocations.

IMHO, more importantly, this particular choice sends a clear signal to all of us as to the direction of B16's pontificate. With his elevation to the College of Cardinals, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo is the youngest member at age 58. This is good news for the future of the Catholic Church.

[Salvation]

And what is more encouraging is that a lot of bishops and archbishops and cardinals (all older) are nearing the retirement age!

Prayers for Pope Benedict as he replaces them.