Cardinals arriving at the Vatican for the 1^st consistory called by Pope Benedict XVI

(March 23, 2006) : On Thursday March 23, 193 Cardinals from 67 countries arrived in Rome for a one-day meeting for prayer and reflection in advance of the public consistory on March 24 at which Pope Benedict XVI will create 15 new cardinals, including 3 from Asia. Pope Benedict opened the meeting with a Latin prayer followed by an address of welcome. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said the meeting would discuss "the big pastoral challenges of the day" and "questions of great importance". Calling his first consistory within the first year of his pontificate, Pope Benedict invited the cardinals to make free interventions on the problems that most interest the Church and the world. Among the issues expected to be discussed are dialogue with other religions, the need for more vocations to the priesthood and the Pope's plans for changes in the Vatican. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, called six extraordinary sessions of the College of Cardinals to discuss major problems facing the Church, but they usually lasted more than one day. Convened in 1979, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1994 and 2001, they were an important instrument in his government of the Church. There are 20 Cardinals from Asia: Hong Kong (1), India (5), Indonesia (1), Japan (2), Korea (2), Lebanon (1), Philippines (3), Syria (1), Taiwan (1), Thailand (1) and Vietnam (2). Of these 20, 13 Cardinals are eligible to participate in the conclave for electing the Pope.