Pope Francis' letter congratulating Cardinals-designate
Vatican City, 14 January 2014: “The Cardinalate does not mean a promotion, nor an
honor, nor a decoration, it is simply a service” that calls us to “widen our gaze
and enlarge the heart” wrote Pope Francis in his letter to the 19 Cardinals-designate
whom he will be elevating to the College of Cardinals in a February consistory. Pope’s
letter dated 12 January was released by the Vatican on Monday. Pope Francis had announced
his decision to hold the February 22nd consistory and read out the names
of the Cardinals-to-be at the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square. “Dear Brother, on the day when your appointment to the College of Cardinals is made public, I wish to send you a heartfelt greeting along with assurances of my closeness and my prayers,” wrote Pope Francis. He expressed the hope that the newly appointed Cardinals will help him “with fraternal effectiveness in service to the universal Church.”
Please find below the full text of Pope’s letter
“Dear brother, “On the day that your designation as part of the College of Cardinals is made public, I wish to send you a cordial greeting along with the guarantee of my closeness and prayer. It is my hope that, joined with the Church of Rome and “clothed in the virtues and sentiments of the Lord Jesus”, you may help me with fraternal efficacy in my service to the Universal Church.
“The cardinalship does not imply promotion; it is neither an honour nor a decoration; it is simply a service that requires you to broaden your gaze and open your hearts. And, although this may appear paradoxical, the ability to look further and to love more universally with greater intensity may be acquired only by following the same path of the Lord: the path of self-effacement and humility, taking on the role of a servant. Therefore I ask you, please, to receive this designation with a simple and humble heart. And, while you must do so with pleasure and joy, ensure that this sentiment is far from any expression of worldliness or from any form of celebration contrary to the evangelical spirit of austerity, sobriety and poverty.
“Until we meet, then, on 20 February, when our two days of reflection on the family commence. I remain at your disposal and ask you, please, to pray for me and to ask for prayers on my behalf.
May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin protect you.”Source: VIS
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