Consistories for new cardinals and future saints

(February 11.2012) Pope Benedict XVI will hold an ordinary public consistory on Feb. 18, next Saturday, to create 22 new cardinals. The Vatican’s Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff issued a communiqué on Friday giving details of the day. During the consistory Saturday morning the Pontiff will create the new cardinals by conferring on them the red hat, consigning the ring and assigning them a Roman Church. Among the 22 new cardinals are two Asians: Major Archbishop George Alencherry of Ernakulam-Angamaly, the head of the eastern rite Syro-Malabar Catholic Church based in southern India’s Kerala state, and Bishop John Tong Hon of Kong Kong. Soon after the ceremony the Pope will hold another consistory, including the new cardinals, to vote on seven future saints, whom he cleared Dec. 19. Among them are Filipino lay catechist and martyr, Pedro Calungsod, and Native American laywoman, Kateri Tekakwitha. That same evening, well-wishers will be allowed into various halls of the Vatican to felicitate the newly created cardinals. The following day, Sunday, Feb. 20, Pope Benedict will concelebrate Mass with the new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica. Earlier the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict has convoked the College of Cardinals for a day of prayer on the eve of the consistory, Feb. 17.