Agenzia Fides

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - At the end of today's general audience, the Holy Father Benedict XVI announced that he has called a Consistory for the creation of six new Cardinals to take place on 24 November, Solemnity of Christ the King of the universe. These are the Pope’s words: "It is with great joy that I announce my intention to hold a consistory on 24 November, in which I will appoint six new members of the College of Cardinals. Cardinals have the task of helping the Peter’s Successors carry out his mission to confirm people in the faith and to be the source and foundation of the Church’s unity and communion. Here are the names of the new cardinals: 1. Archbishop James Michael Harvey, Prefect of the Pontifical Household, that I intend to appoint as Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls; 2. His Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites (Lebanon); 3. His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars (India); 4. Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja (Nigeria); 5. Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez, Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia); 6. Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila (Philippines). The new Cardinals - as you have heard – carry out their ministry at the service of the Holy See or as fathers and pastors of particular Churches in various parts of the world. I invite everyone to pray for the newly elected, asking the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary that they may always love Christ and His Church with courage and commitment." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 24/10/2012)