HOMILY AT THE CONSISTORY TO CREATE NEW CARDINALS, 11/24/07
Lord Cardinals,
venerated brothers in the Episcopate and priesthood,
dear brothers and sisters!
In this Vatican Basilica, heart of the Christian world, we renew today a significant and solemn church event: the Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of 23 new Cardinals, with the imposition of the biretta and the assignment of titles.
It is an event that always elicits a special emotion, not only in those who, with these rites, will be admitted to the College of Cardinals, but in the whole Church, joyful at this eloquent sign of Catholic unity.
The ceremony itself is structured to highlight the value of the task that the new Cardinals are called to carry out, cooperating closely with the Successor of Peter, and invites the People of God to pray so that in rendering their service, our brothers may always remain faithful to Christ, up to sacrificing their life if necessary, and will let themselves be guided only by his Gospel.
Therefore we are gathered around them in faith and raise to the Lord our prayerful gratitude.
In this atmosphere of joy and intense spirituality, I extend my greeting to each of you, dear brothers, who will be members from this day on, of the College of Cardinals, amd who have been chosen to be - according to ancient institution - the closest advisers and co-workers of the Successor of Peter in guiding the Church.
I greet and thank Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, who in your name has addressed courteous and devoted words towards me, while underscoring the significance and importance of this ecclesial moment that we are living through.
I also wish to turn a dutiful thought to our dear departed Mons. Ignacy Jeæz
[emeritus bishop of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg, Poland], whom the God of all graces called back to his side just before the nominations, in order to give him another crown: that of eternal glory in Christ.
My cordial greetings go to all the Cardinals present today and to those who were unable to be physically present but are united with us in spirit.
The celebration of a Consistory is always a providential occasion to offer
urbi et orbi, to the city of Rome and to the entire world, testimony of that singular unity which keeps the cardinals together with and around the Pope, Bishop of Rome.
In these solemn circumstances, I am happy to address a respectful and deferential greeting to the government representatives and other personalities who have come her from various parts of the world, as well as to the families, friends, priests, religious and lay faithful of the individual local churches from which the new cardinals come.
Finally, I greet all who are gathered here to crown the occasion and to express in festive joy their regard and their affection.
With today's celebration, your, dear brothers, are taking your place with full title within the venerable Church of Rome, of which the Successor of Peter is Pastor. The College of Cardinals revives the ancient Presbyterium of the Bishop of Rome, whose members, while continuing to carry out their pastoral and liturgical functions in their respective churches, do not fail to give him their precious collaboration to help him fulfill his tasks in carrying out his universal apostolic ministry.
Times have changed, and the great family of the disciples of Christ is spread out today in every continent, to the most remote corneers of the eart; it speaks practically all the languages of the world; and people of every culture belong to it.
The diversity of the College of Cardinals, by geographic and cultural origin, highlights this providential growth, and proves at the same time the changed pastoral demands to which the Pope must respond.
The universality and catholicity of the Church is well reflected in the composition of the College of Cardinals: the great majority are pastors of diocesan communities, some are in the direct service of the Apostolic See, and some have rendered meritorious service in specific pastoral sectors.
Each of you, dear and venerated brother cardinals, represent a part of the articulated Mystical Body of Christ which is the Church disseminated everywhere.
I know very well the effort and sacrifice required today for the care of souls, but I also know the generosity that sustains your daily apostolic activity. Because of this, in the circumstances we live in, it is with great pleasure that I convey to you my sincere appreciation for the service that you have faithfully rendered in so many years of work in different fields of the church ministry - a service that, now, with your elevation to cardinal rank, you are called on to fulfill with even greater responsibility, in closest communion with the Bishop of Rome.
I think affectionately of the communities entrusted to your care and, particularly, those who are most tried by suffering, challenges and difficulties of various kinds.
Among these, how can we not turn our eyes, with apprehension and affection, in these moments of joy, to the beloved Christian communities of Iraq? There, our brothers and sister in the faith are experiencing in the flesh the tragic consequences of a continuing conflict and live today in a political situation that is more delicate and fragile than ever.
By naming the Patriach of the Chaldean Church to the College of Cardinals, I wishedr to express concretely my spiritual nearness and affection for the Iraqi people.
So together, dear and venerated brothers, let us reaffirm the solidarity of the entire Church with the Christians of that beloved land, and invite all to invoke the merciful God, in behalf of all the peoples involved, for the coming of reconciliation and peace that we all desire.
Just now, we listened to the Word of God which helps us to better understand ther solemn time in which we live. In the gospel passage, Jesus has just reminded his disciples for the third time of the destiny that awaits him in Jerusalem, but the ambition of the disciples takes precedence over the fear that had assailed them briefly.
After the confession of Peter in Caesarea and the discussion along the way over which of them was the greatest, ambition impelled the sons of Zebedee to lay claim for themselves to the best places in the messianic Kingdom to the end of times.
In the race for privilege, both knew well what they wanted, just like the other ten, notwithstanding their 'virtuous' indignation. In fact, they did not know what they were asking for. It was Jesus who made them understand, speaking in terms much different from the 'ministry' that awaited them. He corrected their grossly mistaken idea of merit according to which tey thought one could acquire rights with respect to God.
The evangelist Mark reminds us, dear and venerated brothers, that every true disciple of Christ can aspire to one thing only: to share his passion without expecting any reward. The Christian is called to assume the condition of 'servant' following the footsteps of Christ, thus living his life for others freely and in disinterested manner.
It is not the search for power and success, but the humble gift of oneself for the good of the Church, that should characterize every act and word of ours. True Christian greatness, in fact, is not in domination but in service.
Jesus repeats to each of us today that he "did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10,45). That is the ideal that should orient your service.
Dear brothers, as you enter into the College of Cardinals, the Lord asks of you and entrusts to you a service of love: love for God, love for his Church, love for our brothers, with maximum and unconditional dedication,
'usque ad sanguinis effusionem' - up to shedding your blood - as the ritual says, during the imposition of the biretta , and as symbolized by the red of the garments you wear.
Be apostles of God who is Love, and witnesses of evangelical hope - this is what the Christian people expect of you. Today's ceremony underlines the great responsibility that weighs on each of you, venerated and dear brothers, confirmed in the words of the Apostle Peter that we just heard: "Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope" (1 Pt 3,15).
Such responsibility does not exempt us from risks but, as St. Peter also reminds us: "It is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil." (1 Pt 3,17).
Christ asks you to confess before men his truth, to embrace and share his cause, and to fulfill all of this "with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear" (1 Pt 3,15-16), that is, with that interior humility which is the fruit of cooperating with the grace of God.
Dear brothers and sisters, tomorrow, in this same Basilica, I will have the joy of celebrating the Eucharist, on the Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe, together with the new cardinals, to whom I shall give their rings.
It will be an even more important and timely occasion to reaffirm our unity in Christ and to renew our common will to serve him with total generosity. Accompany them with prayer so that they may respond with full and constant dedication to the gift they have received.
Let us turn now with confidence to Mary, Queen of the Apostles. May her spiritual presence today in this singular Cenacle be a guarantee -for the new cardinals and all of us - of the constant effusion of the Holy Spirit who guides the Church in her journey through history. Amen.