Pope Francis, with retired Pope Benedict present, creates new cardinals

cns ^ | February 23, 2014 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On a feast day commemorating the authority Jesus gave to St. Peter and his successors -- the popes -- Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI.

To the great surprise of most people present, the retired pope entered St. Peter's Basilica about 15 minutes before the new cardinals and Pope Francis. Wearing a long white coat and using a cane, he took a seat in the front row next to Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI greets Pope Francis at the conclusion of a consistory at which Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals Feb. 22. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Pope Benedict's presence at the consistory Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of Peter, marked the first time he had joined Pope Francis for a public prayer service in the basilica. Pope Benedict resigned Feb. 28, 2013, becoming the first pope in almost 600 years to do so.

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, said all the already existing cardinals went over to greet Pope Benedict. "The ushers kept saying, 'Please, your eminences, take your seats, the Holy Father is coming,' and we thought, 'But, but ....'"

Before beginning the service, Pope Francis walked over to Pope Benedict, who removed his zucchetto to greet Pope Francis. The scene was repeated at the end of the consistory.

The new cardinals, including Cardinal Gerald Lacroix of Quebec and Vincent Nichols of Westminster, England, publicly recited the Creed and swore obedience to the pope and his successors before receiving from Pope Francis a red hat, a ring and the assignment of a "titular church" in Rome, becoming part of the clergy of the pope's diocese.

After they received their red hats, each of the new cardinals walked over to Pope Benedict and greeted him.

Cardinal Lacroix, accompanied by his mother and father at an afternoon reception, said Pope Benedict's presence "surprised me so much that I broke down in tears."

When he went to greet the retired pope, he said he told him, "Holy Father, you are the one who called me to be a bishop."

Only 18 of the archbishops Pope Francis had chosen to be among the first cardinals created during his pontificate were present.

The oldest of the new cardinals -- and now the oldest cardinal in the world -- Cardinal Loris Capovilla, 98, was not present at the ceremony although he became a cardinal the moment Pope Francis pronounced his name. A papal delegate will deliver his red hat to his home in northern Italy.

In his homily Pope Francis did not mention the standard point that the cardinals' new red vestments are symbols of the call to serve Christ and his church to the point of shedding their blood if necessary. Rather, he focused on their being called to follow Christ more closely, to build up the unity of the church and to proclaim the Gospel more courageously.



The Bible, he said, is filled with stories of Jesus walking with his disciples and teaching them as they traveled.

"This is important," the pope said. "Jesus did not come to teach a philosophy, an ideology, but rather a 'way,' a journey to be undertaken with him, and we learn the way as we go, by walking."

After listening to a reading of Mark 10:32-45, Pope Francis also spoke about the very human, worldly temptation of "rivalry, jealousy (and) factions" the first disciples faced.

The reading is a warning to the cardinals and to all Christians to put aside concerns of power and favoritism and "to become ever more of one heart and soul" gathered around the Lord, he said.

Pope Francis told the new cardinals, who come from 15 different countries -- including very poor nations like Haiti and Ivory Coast -- that the church "needs you, your cooperation and, even more, your communion, communion with me and among yourselves."

"The church needs your courage," he said, "to proclaim the Gospel at all times" and "to bear witness to the truth."

The pope also told the cardinals that the church needs their "compassion, especially at this time of pain and suffering for so many countries throughout the world," and for so many Christians who face discrimination and persecution. "We must struggle against all discrimination," he said.

"The church needs us also to be peacemakers, building peace by our actions, hopes and prayers," he said.

The consistory brought to 218 the total number of cardinals in the world; 122 cardinals are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave.

The 18 cardinals who received their red hats from the pope were Cardinals:

-- Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, Italian, 59.

-- Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Italian, 73.

-- Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, German, 66.

-- Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, Italian, 72.

-- Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, England, 68.

-- Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano of Managua, Nicaragua, 64.

-- Gerald Lacroix of Quebec, 56.

-- Jean-Pierre Kutwa of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 68.

-- Orani Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 63.

-- Gualtiero Bassetti of Perguia-Citta della Pieve, Italy, 71.

-- Mario Poli of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 66.

-- Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, South Korea, 70.

-- Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago, Chile, 72.

-- Philippe Ouedraogo of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 69.

-- Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Philippines, 74.

-- Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes, Haiti, 55.

-- Fernando Sebastian Aguilar, retired archbishop of Pamplona, Spain, 84.

-- Kelvin Felix, retired archbishop of Castries, St. Lucia, Antilles, 81.

[NKP_Vet]

So the pope could approve homo marriages, polygamy, abortion, etc. Right? He could declare there is salvation outside the Church. He could walk on water and part the Red Sea.

No, that is faith and morals. Taken straight out of the Bible. Not changing. Cardinals are something the Catholic Church came up with it. It’s a title, nothing more. The Pope can make anyone a Cardinal, it’s usually a priest, but the Pope can change that law. Why are you arguing about this? You are supposed to be Catholic. If so, try agreeing with the Pope for a change.

[ebb tide]

No; you said the pope can do anything he wants to do. And so far, he’s been doing a lot of it.

[ebb tide]

The Pope can make anyone a Cardinal,

Then maybe the pope will make Rabbi Skorka and Abe Foxman cardinals.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Oh I know, only protestants know scripture.”

Again, you miss my concern entirely.

[ebb tide]

But he doesn’t have to do what they want, he does whatever he pleases.

So true for the current pope!

[NKP_Vet]

Got to be Catholic.

[ebb tide]

Nope. According to you, he can do damn well whatever he wants to.

[ebb tide]

If so, try agreeing with the Pope for a change.

That not possible in many cases; otherwise I'd be disagreeing with the pre-conciliar popes.

[NKP_Vet]

My only problem with Francis is I think he talks to much. And what he says is not always clear and that leaves him wide open to be misinterpreted. But I don’t worry in the least about him changing anything to do with moral issues that are as old as the church itself.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Cardinals are something the Catholic Church came up with it. It’s a title, nothing more. “

Wow. Exactly what I wrote upthread.

[SumProVita]

No, I don’t. They are both very biased.

[SumProVita]

When they give the wrong impression...I do. Overall, I do not trust anything they print and I look for substantiation from other, trustworthy sources...like the Vatican itself. When what they print is accurate and builds up the Church, I will say so. You must, of course, be aware that they often give the wrong impression about what the Church actually teaches.

[SumProVita]

By the way, the Curt Jester checks things as well....and that blog was my primary source.

[SumProVita]

Do you profess Francis to be the present, legitimate head of the Catholic Church?

[ebb tide]

Do you profess to be a Catholic? Because you sure don’t sound like one.

[ebb tide]

Don’t you remember asking me that last night? Or were you drunk?

I’ve already given you my answer.

[piusv]

Then maybe the pope will make Rabbi Skorka and Abe Foxman cardinals.

Hmmm...that would take false ecumenism to new heights!

[FourtySeven]

Do you profess [Francis] is the worst Pope the Holy Church has ever had?

Do you? I'm asking honestly and would appreciate a reply as such a question is nearly outrageous to consider. As some Protestants seemingly delight in reminding us, there have been Popes far worse than Francis ever could possibly be now, in anyone's wildest schismatic/heretical dream. This is just historical fact and can't be denied. And guess what, they are "pre-conciliar" Popes to boot.

So tell me seriously, do you believe Francis is the "worst Pope the Holy Church has ever had"?

[piusv]

As some Protestants seemingly delight in reminding us, there have been Popes far worse than Francis ever could possibly be now, in anyone's wildest schismatic/heretical dream. This is just historical fact and can't be denied. And guess what, they are "pre-conciliar" Popes to boot.

Who would these pre-Conciliar popes be?

[piusv]

I think NKP’s point is that even though only men are allowed now, Francis could change that.

I can’t argue with that. Knowing Francis, he most certainly could. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. And the neo-Catholics would defend his right to do so. To heck with 2000 years of tradition! Pffft.