Pope tells new cardinals to unite themselves with Christ on the cross

(November 22, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI asked the 24 newest cardinals he elevated on Saturday not to ask Christ to come down from the cross, but rather to unite themselves faithfully to Him for the redemption of the world. At a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, marking Sunday’s solemn feast of Christ the King, the Pope gave each of the 24 cardinals a ring with the image of a crucifix emblazoned on it. The image was intended to remind them that their ministry is dependent upon their fidelity to the crucified Christ. In his homily the Pope reflected on the Gospel episode of Christ crucified between the two thieves, and said that the "good thief" because of his faith, was already in paradise, as paradise meant being with Jesus, being with God. He told the two dozen new cardinals that this is the fundamental message of the Gospel. It calls us to be with Jesus, like Mary, and not to ask him to come down from the cross, but to remain there with Him. "And this, because of our ministry, we must do not only for ourselves, but for all the Church, for the entire people of God," he told them. Their ministry must be based on a faith passed "through the scandal of the cross, to become authentic, truly 'Christian,' to become the 'rock' on which Jesus may build his Church," he said. This is not limited to cardinals, Pope Benedict explained. All Christians find joy and peace in sharing in the cross, because through it one is "transferred" into the Kingdom of God.