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Pope paves way for successor

February 18, 2012

Pope Benedict XIV has created 22 new cardinals. As "princes of the church," most of the men will elect the successor to the 84-year-old Catholic Church leader when the time comes.

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Cardinals sit inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican
Image: dapd

The ceremony to elevate the Catholic dignitaries to the highest Church rank took place on Saturday in St. Peter's Basilica.

"Cardinals are entrusted with the service of love: love for God, love for his Church, an absolute and unconditional love for his brothers and sisters, even unto shedding their blood, if necessary [in defense of the faith]," the pope told the men before giving them their rings and red hats, called birettas.

"Furthermore, they are asked to serve the Church with love and vigor, with the transparency and wisdom of teachers, with the energy and strength of shepherds, with the fidelity and courage of martyrs," he said.

The consistory, as the ceremony is called, brings to 214 the members of the College of Cardinals, the pope's closest advisors.

Benedict has named more than half of the 125 cardinals eligible to select the next pope. That group is dominated by 67 Europeans, of which 30 are Italian. All but three of them - a Brazilian, a Chinese and an Indian - come from the West.

The others were named by his predecessor, John Paul II.

Consistories are purely meant to refill the ranks of the College of Cardinals and prepare for a time when a new pope must be chosen.

Benedict will turn 85 in April and has become visibly frail.

ncy/sb (AP, AFP, KNA)