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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “While I assure you of my prayers, I ask you to accompany me always with your appreciated human and pastoral experience. I rely on your invaluable assistance to enable me to better carry out my ministry at the service of the whole people of God. I need this support”. The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI said this when he addressed the new Cardinals created at the Consistory of 24 November, received in audience on Monday 26 November with members of their families, friends and faithful who had travelled to Rome for the event. Addressing the family and friends of the new Cardinals the Pope said: “Thank you once again for taking part in the different parts of the Consistory. Please continue to pray for them and for me, that the communion between the Pope and the Bishops may always be strong in order to offer the whole world the witness of a Church faithful to Christ and ready to meet with prophetic courage the spiritual expectations and needs of the men and women of our day.”
At the beginning of his address the Pope said: “The Consistory and the Eucharistic Celebration yesterday, the solemnity of Christ the King, offered us a singular opportunity to experience the Catholicity of the Church well represented by the varied origin of the members of the College of Cardinals, gathered in close communion around the Successor of Peter.” The Pope then addressed the Cardinals and those accompanying them in carious languages. In English he said I extend a cordial greeting to the English-speaking Prelates whom I had the joy of raising to the dignity of Cardinal in last Saturday’s Consistory. Cardinal John Patrick Foley, Grand Master of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; Cardinal Sean Baptist Brady, Archbishop of Armagh (Ireland); Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay (India); Cardinal Daniel Dinardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston (USA); Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya); Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans. I am also pleased to have this opportunity to welcome their family members and friends, and all the faithful who have accompanied them to Rome. The College of Cardinals, whose origin is linked to the ancient clergy of the Roman Church, is 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 vivid colour of their robes has traditionally been seen as a sign of their commitment to defending Christ’s flock even to the shedding of their blood. As the new Cardinals accept the burden of this office, I am confident that they will be supported by your constant prayers and your cooperation in their efforts to build up the Body of Christ in unity, holiness and peace.”.
He urged the French group to support and accompany their bishops with prayers, “that they may guide the people entrusted to them”, and to ask Christ to call young people "to take the path of the priesthood”.
To the friends who had come with Cardinal Cordes, the Pope said in German: “with you I thank our new Cardinal for his invaluable service as president of the Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’ for many years. Accompany him also in the future with your prayers and sustain him in his important task for the Pope's charity aid for the poor and the suffering ”.
In Spanish the Pope said: “We turn our thoughts to the Blessed Virgin Mary to whom your people are so devoted and we ask her to intercede with her Divine Son that these Cardinals may render fruitful service to the Church”. Speaking in Portuguese the Pope recalled in journey to Sao Paulo, in Brazil, expressing gratitude for the welcome he received and praying that Cardinal Scherer's new dignity would help “to strengthen the faith of Brazilians in Christ our Lord and Saviour”. In Polish the Pope addressed Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko and his guests: “I thank him for all he does to foster the participation of the laity in the life of the Church and I wish him abundant graces”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 27/11/2007; righe 39, parole 558)
