Pope creates 20 cardinals, exhorts them to be models of charity

February 16, 2015

Pope Francis created 20 cardinals during a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica on February 14 and called upon them to exemplars of the virtue of charity.

“You are ‘hinges’ and are ‘incardinated’ in the Church of Rome, which ‘presides over the entire assembly of charity,’” the Pontiff said during his homily. “In the Church, all ‘presiding’ flows from charity, must be exercised in charity, and is ordered towards charity. Here too the Church of Rome exercises an exemplary role.”

Preaching on 1 Corinthians 13, the Pope said that “all of us, myself first and each of you with me, would do well to let ourselves be guided by the inspired words of the apostle Paul.”

During the ceremony, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, speaking on behalf of all the new cardinals, reflected on the importance of identification with Christ, even to the shedding of blood, for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Pope announced that the canonization of three blesseds – Blessed Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve, Blessed Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas, Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified – will take place on May 17.

 

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Further information:

• Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico per la creazione di 20 nuovi Cardinali e per il voto su alcune cause di Canonizzazione (Holy See Press Office, scroll down for English)
• Ordinary Public Consistory for the new cardinals (Vatican YouTube channel)
• Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli o Diaconie e Voto su alcune cause di Canonizzazione (Holy See Press Office)
• Indirizzo di omaggio del Card. Dominique Mamberti
• Booklet for the ceremony