* Original message posted in: VATICAN.
* Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

TWENTIETH YEAR - N. 206
ENGLISH
FRIDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2010

SUMMARY:

- Consistory Begins with a Day of Prayer and Reflection
- Rites of the Consistory for the Creation of New Cardinals
- Audiences

___________________________________________________________

CONSISTORY BEGINS WITH A DAY OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION

VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2010 (VIS) - As part of the consistory during which the
Holy Father will create twenty-four new cardinals, the College of Cardinals
is today meeting in the Vatican's New Synod Hall to hold a day of reflection
and prayer.

  The meeting began at 9.30 a.m. with a greeting from the Pope who focused
his remarks on the two themes of the morning session. Considering the first
of these themes, he noted that the Lord's command to announce the Gospel
implicitly embraces the need for the freedom to do so, although, over the
course of history, it has encountered various forms of opposition. The
relationship between truth and freedom is essential but today faces the
great challenge of relativism, which seems to complete the concept of
freedom but which actually risks destroying it and becoming an authentic
'dictatorship'. We are then, he suggested, facing a difficult period in our
commitment to affirm the freedom to announce the truth of the Gospel and the
great achievements of Christian culture. The Pope also recalled the
essential importance of liturgy in Church life, being the place of God's
presence with us.

  The cardinals then turned their attention to the two chosen themes: the
situation of religious freedom in the world and new challenges, with an
introductory talk by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.,
and the liturgy in the life of the Church today, with a preliminary
contribution from Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, prefect of the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

  Cardinal Bertone presented a panoramic overview of current attempts to
restrict the freedom of Christians in various parts of the world, inviting
people to reflect on the situation of religious freedom in Western States.
We are witnessing, he said, a process of secularisation accompanied by
attempts to remove spiritual values from social life. The Cardinal Secretary
of State also elucidated the situation of religious freedom in Muslim
countries, recalling the conclusions reached during the recent Special
Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops. Finally, he explained
the activities the Holy See and local episcopates make to defend Catholics,
in both East and West. On this subject he also recalled the great efforts
made by the Holy See in the international arena to promote respect for the
religious freedom of believers.

  For his part, Cardinal Canizares Llovera focused his remarks on the
importance of liturgical prayer in the life of the Church.

  In the course of a broad-ranging debate, eighteen cardinal arose to speak
of the great difficulties the Church has to face today in defending values
founded on natural law, such as respect for life and the family. Another
question examined was that of inter-religious dialogue, in particular with
Islam.

  Two further contributions are scheduled for the afternoon session. The
first, to be delivered by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will focus on Holy See norms for
welcoming Anglican priests and faithful who request to be admitted to the
Catholic Church, and for defending victims of child abuse by members of the
clergy. The second contribution, by Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect
of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will serve to recall the
validity of the Instruction "Dominus Iesus" on Jesus Christ our only
Saviour, published ten years ago.
OP/                                                                     VIS
20101119 (570)

RITES OF THE CONSISTORY FOR THE CREATION OF NEW CARDINALS

VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2010 (VIS) - At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday 20
November, the Pope will hold an ordinary pu
blic consistory for the creation
of twenty-four new cardinals.

  The consistory for the creation of new cardinals, according to the new
rite introduced during the consistory of 28 June 1991, is structured as
follows:

  Following a liturgical greeting, the Pope reads the formula of creation,
and solemnly proclaims the names of the new cardinals. The first of the new
cardinals then addresses the Holy Father on behalf of them all.

  This is followed by the Liturgy of the Word, the Pope's homily, the
Profession of Faith and the taking of the oath by each cardinal.

  Each new cardinal then approaches the Holy Father and kneels before him to
receive the cardinal's biretta and to be assigned a title or deaconry.

  The Pope places the biretta on the cardinal's head and pronounces a
formula which includes the following words: "(This is) red as a sign of the
dignity of the office of a cardinal, signifying that you are ready to act
with fortitude, even to the point of spilling your blood for the increase of
the Christian faith, for peace and harmony among the people of God, for
freedom and the spread of the Holy Roman Catholic Church".

  The Holy Father hands over the Bull of Creation as cardinal, assigns the
title or deaconry and exchanges a kiss of peace with the new members of the
College of Cardinals. The cardinals also exchange such a sign among
themselves.

  The rite concludes with the Prayer of the Faithful, the recitation of the
Our Father and the final blessing.

  At 9.30 a.m. on Sunday 21 November, Solemnity of Christ the King, the Holy
Father will preside at a concelebrated Mass with the new cardinals, during
which he will give them the cardinal's ring, "the sign of dignity, pastoral
care and the most solid communion with the See of Peter."

  As he places the ring on the new cardinal's finger, the Pope says: "Take
this ring from the hand of Peter and know that, with the love of the Prince
of the Apostles, your love for the Church is strengthened."

  Following tomorrow's ceremony, the College of Cardinals will have 203
members, of whom 121 are electors. The members of the College, by continent
of origin, are divided as follows: 111 from Europe, 21 from North America,
31 from South America, 17 from Africa, 19 from Asia and 4 from Oceania.
.../                                                                    VIS
20101119 (430)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2010 (VIS) - Yesterday the Holy Father received in
audience Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany.
AP/                                                                     VIS
20101119 (30)

___
 - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3) 
--- timEd/2 1.10.y2k+