Vatican Appoints New Cardinals

Pope Benedict XVI added 15 members to the College of Cardinals today, and ordered them to spread charity and love around the world.

Applause rang out in St Peter's Square as the new "princes" of the church processed out onto the steps of St Peter's Basilica, wearing their crimson robes for the first time. There was more applause as each received a red "biretta" or three-cornered scarlet hat from the pope.

The prelates included Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, an outspoken critic of China; Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Pope John Paul II's long-time private secretary; and the Vatican's new chief doctrinal watchdog, Cardinal William Levada. The archbishops of Caracas, Boston, Seoul, and Bordeaux were also promoted.

In his first consistory to create new cardinals, Pope Benedict told the prelates he was counting on them to spread the principles of love and charity that he had highlighted in his first encyclical, "God is Love".

"May the scarlet that you now wear always express Christ's charity, inspiring you to a passionate love for Christ, for his church and for all humanity," he said. "I am counting on you, dear brother cardinals, to ensure that the principle of love will spread far and wide, and will give new life to the church at every level of her hierarchy."

Benedict has said unifying all Christians is a priority of his pontificate. Security was tight around the square, with uniformed and plainclothes police ringing the area.

The pope seemed visibly moved when he gave Cardinal Dziwisz, John Paul's closest collaborator, his red hat. The red colour symbolises not only the dignity of the office but also the cardinal's willingness to shed blood to promote Christianity.

The cardinals were also each assigned a "titular" church in Rome to cement their links to the Eternal City. They will get their rings during a Mass on Saturday in St Peter's Square.

Each cardinal pledged to always remain loyal to the church, the Pope, and to keep any secrets whose revelation "could bring harm or dishonour to the holy church".

Benedict announced last month that he was naming the new cardinals, 12 of whom are under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave. After the consistory, there will be a total of 193 cardinals, 120 of whom can vote.

Yesterday, Benedict summoned the entire College of Cardinals, including its newest members, to ask their advice on issues such as relations with Islam.

Following today's ceremony, Europe continues to have the vast majority of cardinals - 100, 60 of whom are of voting age. Latin America is next with 20 voting-age cardinals, followed by North America with 16. Asia has 13, Africa nine and Oceania two.