Card. Filoni: A renewed commitment of fidelity

Below a Vatican Radio Translation of Cardinal Fernando Filoni’s address on behalf of the 22 newly created Cardinals to the Holy Father, before Mass for the Solemnity of the Chair of St Peter:

The scarlet bestowed on us reminds us, Holy Father, not so much the greatness of the wearer as a symbol of power and domination, but the profound mystery of the suffering of Jesus, covered by his captors with a scarlet cloak, and thus presented to the crowd before Pilate, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2.8). Even today in the Church, for their loyalty to his Lord, many of its members face martyrdom, trial and persecution.

Most Holy Father, at this most meaningful moment in our life’s journey, we would like, together with our feelings of gratitude, affection and dedication, present You as a gift, our renewed commitment of fidelity, our complete willingness in the performance of the specific tasks entrusted to us in the Roman Curia, in the particular Churches or in the service of truth and knowledge . We too wish to wear a robe usque ad effusionem sanguinis.

Our gratitude today is joined by that, no less profound and joyful, of our relatives and friends, the churches where we come from and peoples to which we belong. Every vocation, in fact, is born in a human context and is practiced in the context in which our people live, with whom we build pastoral relationships that can never be erased. They too, Holy Father, thank you and ensure their prayer for Your person (conservet eum Dominus) and support for Your supreme and universal ecclesial ministry (Tu es Petrus).

We entrust our service as cardinals to the protection of Mary Mother of Grace, indeed it is Christ himself, who from the Cross places us under his protective mother, "Woman behold your son!" (Jn 19, 26). And we ask you, our Mother, come abide with us.

To God blessed for ever, will be raised with the same Marian words of our prayer: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Lk 1.46 to 47).