Pope meets families, friends, delegations of new cardinals

November 26, 2012 - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday received the Catholic Church’s six new cardinals along with their families, relatives friends and delegates, reminding them that the creation of new cardinals is a special event of the universal Church that is called to be sign of hope for all peoples. Pope Benedict created the new cardinals on Saturday, and concelebrated Mass with them on Sunday. Among the new cardinals is India’s Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis of Trivandrum, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Other English-speaking new cardinals are Filipino Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Nigerian Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja and US Cardinal James Michael Harvey, the Archpriest of the Roman Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls. Addressing the English-speaking group the Pope recalled that cardinals are charged with electing the successor of Peter and advising him in matters of greater importance. Whether in the offices of the Roman Curia or in their ministry in the local Churches throughout the world, the Cardinals are called to share in a special way in the Pope’s solicitude for the universal Church. The Pope explained that the red colour of the cardinals’ robes is a sign of their commitment to defending Christ’s flock even to the shedding of their blood. He recommended the new cardinals to their prayers and assistance as they strive with the Roman Pontiff to promote throughout the world the holiness, communion and peace of the Church. The Pope also addressed the other two cardinals in French and Spanish.