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January 6, 2012Pope Benedict XVI named 22 new cardinals, including two from the United States, and announced a consistory for their formal induction on Feb. 18.
Among those named were Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York and
Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien, a former archbishop of Baltimore who now serves as grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Cardinal-designate Dolan will be the featured speaker at the Diocese of Corpus Christi Jubilee Centennial Jubilee Formation Conference on March 26.
Cardinal-designate Dolan addresses media.
“This is an honor for these outstanding church leaders as well as an honor for the Church in the United States,” Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville said. “As men of prayer, wisdom and dedication, they will bring many talents and graces to their new roles as advisors to the Holy Father.”
Archbishop Kurtz serves as vice-president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), headed by Cardinal-designate Dolan. Archbishop Kurtz noted their generous service beyond their respective archdioceses.
“The entire USCCB has benefitted from their many abilities,” he said. “As president of the USCCB and as former president of Catholic Relief Services, Cardinal-designate Dolan has brought both energy and grace to international and domestic matters.”
“Cardinal-designate O’Brien’s experience with the military has made him a valuable consultant on USCCB justice and peace efforts,” he said. “His seminary background has proven especially insightful in development of our priestly formation programs.”
The new appointments make the churchmen members of the College of Cardinals, where they can be called upon by the pope to serve as advisors at consistories on church affairs, and they will be among members of a conclave that elects successors of the pope. Cardinals can vote in a conclave until they reach the age of 80. With the latest appointments, Pope Benedict has named more than 50 percent of the current cardinals