CARDINALS ARE DEFENDERS OF THE TRUTH, GUARDIANS OF THE FAITH

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2001 (VIS) - During a ceremony held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of tens of thousands of faithful, Pope John Paul created 44 new cardinals from 27 countries in what is the eighth such consistory of his pontificate.

The Pope greeted the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, lay faithful and official delegations from the different countries represented, as well as fraternal delegations from several Churches and ecclesial communities. Of the latter he said: "I send a cordial greeting to you, in the certainty that even this delicate gesture of theirs will not fail to favor the ever better reciprocal understanding and progress towards full communion."

"Each Christian," affirmed the Holy Father, "knows he is called to a fidelity without compromises, which can even require the ultimate sacrifice. And this you know most especially, dear brothers elected to the dignity of cardinal. You commit yourselves to faithfully following Christ, the Martyr par excellence and the faithful Witness."

He recalled that "cardinals must assist and collaborate with the Successor of Peter to alleviate the burdens of a ministry which extends to the four corners of the earth. Together with him you must be strenuous defenders of the truth and custodians of the patrimony of faith and customs which has its origin in the Bible. You will thus be sure guides for everyone and, in the first place, for priests, consecrated persons and committed lay persons."

"As of today," continued John Paul II, "a special bond links you to the Successor of Peter. ... This tie makes you an eloquent sign of communion. You will be promoters of communion, and the entire Church will be the beneficiary." The Pope underlined that "today you have been proclaimed and created cardinals so that you will commit yourselves, in your respective fields of competence, to making sure that the spirituality of communion grows in the Church."

The Pope stated that "to be able to validly face the new duties it is necessary to cultivate an ever more intimate communion with the Lord. The very color of scarlet of the vestments you wear reminds you of this urgency. Is that color not perhaps a symbol of a passionate love for Christ? Do we not see indicated in that bright red the burning fire of love for the Church which should nourish in you the willingness, if necessary, to give the supreme witness of blood?"

Observing that the new cardinals come from 27 countries, Pope John Paul asked: "Is there not perhaps in this fact a sign of the Church's capacity ... to understand peoples with different languages and traditions, to bring to everyone the proclamation of Christ? In Him, and in Him alone, is it possible to find salvation. This is the truth that today we wish to reaffirm. Christ walks with us and guides our steps."

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