USA TODAY International Edition
Cheers as Benedict joins Francis
A sign of support as pope installs 19 new cardinals
VATICAN CITY Pope Francis installed 19 new cardinals Saturday in a ceremony with retired Pope Benedict XVI, marking the first time the two have appeared together at a public liturgical ceremony since Benedict stepped down a year ago.
This batch of new cardinals is significant because of where the men are from: The group includes prelates from developing countries such as Burkina Faso and Haiti, in line with the pope’s belief that the church should do more to help the world’s poor.
“If the focus of this important week ends up being this eclectic group of new cardinals, then I don’t think most people in the Vatican will complain,” said the Rev. Alistair Sear, a retired church historian.
Benedict used a side entrance to enter St. Peter’s Basilica and was greeted by applause. He smiled and waved before taking a seat alongside the cardinals. After
“If the focus of this important week ends up being this eclectic group of new cardinals, then I don’t think most people in the Vatican will complain.”
Rev. Alistair Sear, a retired church historian
proceeding down the aisle at the start of the service, Francis greeted Benedict, clasping him by the shoulders and embracing him. In a sign of respect, Benedict removed his white skullcap as Francis approached.
The crowd erupted in polite applause when one of the new cardinals, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, greeted Benedict in his introductory remarks at the start of the service, saying, “We are grateful for your presence here among us.”
The former pope’s presence is significant on two accounts: it signals both continuity as well as Benedict’s approval in the men Francis had chosen. Each of the newly appointed cardinals — after receiving his red hat from Francis — went to Benedict’s seat to greet the former pope.
The cardinals will have a deciding hand in picking Francis’ suc- cessor: All but three of the new cardinals are younger than 80, the age limit for a cardinal to be eligible to vote for the next pope. .
The week had been billed as one of the most critical in Francis’ year- old papacy, but it concluded with no major changes, placing more attention on the pope’s selection of new cardinals.
On Friday, the pontiff participated in the start of a high- profile set of preparatory meetings on family issues including contraception, divorce and gay unions.
The centerpiece of the week’s events was expected to be the findings of commissions of inquiry into the Institute for Religious Works, which includes the Vatican Bank. Instead, those commissions have yielded few results — postponing any decision- making to later this year.