Pope elevates 24 cardinals, emphasizing role of service

November 22, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI elevated 24 prelates to the College of Cardinals at the 3rd consistory of his pontificate on November 20.

At the Saturday ceremony, the Pope reminded the new cardinals that they are called to a higher level of service to the Church. In the Church, he explained, “no one is proprietor,” but rather “the fundamental criterion of greatness and primacy according to God is not dominion, but service.”

On Sunday, the feast of Christ the King, the Pope concelebrated Mass with the new cardinals, and gave each his new ring emblematic of the new office. In his homily the Pontiff said that cardinals are called to provide a special service to the papacy, and the “the primary service of Peter's Successor is the service of faith.”

After the Mass the Pope held his regular Sunday audience and spoke about the readings for the feast of Christ the King. It may seem paradoxical that the Scripture readings for the day depict Jesus on the Cross, he said. “Yet it is precisely on the Cross that Jesus is 'at the height' of God, Who is Love. There He can be recognized.”

On Monday morning the Pope held a special audience with the new cardinals, their families and friends, in the Paul VI auditorium at the Vatican. Again he reminded the cardinals of their “further duty of supporting Peter's Successor in his universal service to the Church.” He encouraged them to “listen attentively to various voices within the Church,” as a means of promoting unity and providing counsel for the Pope.

 

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Further information:

• Imitate Christ in His Service and Commitment to the Church (VIS)
• Petrine Ministry: Logic of Humility and Service (VIS)
• Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Christ the King with Cardinals (Vatican Radio)
• Listen Attentively to Various Voices within the Church (VIS)
• Angelus: Jesus Is King at the Moment of His Crucifixion (VIS)