For Americans, becoming cardinal was 'on the edge' of happiest day
Nov 27, 2007
Kneeling before Pope Benedict XVI and becoming a cardinal was "on the edge" of being the happiest day in the lives of the two new U.S. cardinals.
VATICAN CITY (CNS, Nov-26-2007) -- Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston used the "on the edge" phrase Nov. 24, but said he had to be honest: "The happiest day of my life is the day as a bishop I ordained my first priest. No day will probably ever equal that."
Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, also used the "on the edge" phrase, but said, "the happiest day was my ordination as a priest. That's it. I keep saying that I have never had an unhappy day as a priest and I mean it."
The two new U.S. cardinals spoke to reporters immediately after the consistory and immediately before attending a reception in their honor at the Pontifical North American College, the U.S. seminary in Rome.
The mood was light-hearted; Cardinal DiNardo explained that he had hoped to be "very composed" when kneeling before the pope, but his new red zucchetto or skullcap kept slipping off. Cardinal Foley used the opportunity to thank the Catholic Press Association for the gift of his new red robes and asked, "Do I look all right, by the way?"
Cardinal Foley also said that he had the permission of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, to continue doing the English-language TV commentary for the pope's Christmas Mass at midnight.
"So, God willing, at Christmas you will hear the ghost of Christmas past," he told reporters.
Pope Benedict met Nov. 26 with the new cardinals, their family members and the pilgrims who came to Rome for the celebrations.
The pope asked the pilgrims to continue offering the new cardinals "friendship, esteem and prayers, helping them continue faithfully to serve the church and to offer an increasingly generous witness of love."
"As the new cardinals accept the burden of this office, I am confident that they will be supported by your constant prayers and your cooperation in their efforts to build up the body of Christ in unity, holiness and peace," the pope said.
At the North American College reception Nov. 24, U.S. seminarians served as ushers, bartenders and entertainers while thousands of U.S. pilgrims stood in line to congratulate the new cardinals.
Roberto and Mira Martinez of St. Mary's Parish in Texas City were part of the official Galveston-Houston pilgrimage.
When the trip was being organized, "I e-mailed my husband at work and said, 'Don't think I'm crazy, but we need to go to Rome,'" she said. "We are watching history and it's exciting to be a part of it. Someday our archbishop could be pope."
The receptions continued in the evening with the traditional "courtesy visits" to the new cardinals, stationed in various rooms of the Apostolic Palace, Vatican audience hall, governor's palace and the headquarters of the office responsible for the upkeep of St. Peter's Basilica.
Making the rounds in the Apostolic Palace, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the two new U.S. members of the College of Cardinals were important and deserving.
"Cardinal Foley has been a faithful servant of the Holy See for many years," he said. "And Cardinal DiNardo represents an important area of growth of the church in our country."
Cardinal George said it was "very moving" to watch the new cardinals receive their red hats from the pope and "it reminded me of what the moment was supposed to be." He said he used the word "supposed" because the moment when he received his own red hat from Pope John Paul II in 1998 was so overwhelming that "I went through it on automatic pilot."
The Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, a chivalric and philanthropic order with special ties to the Holy Land, hosted another reception for Cardinal Foley Nov. 25 in its Rome headquarters.
Among the guests were Latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem, who said he was pleased Pope Benedict has chosen Cardinal Foley to lead the knights and their efforts to assist Catholics in the Holy Land.
Charles J. Curry, a knight from San Antonio, said: "We are absolutely thrilled. Coming from Texas, we got doubly blessed" with both Cardinals Foley and DiNardo receiving red hats at the same ceremony.
"I know Cardinal Foley only by reputation and that is extremely positive," he said.
Several of Cardinal Foley's classmates from the Columbia University School of Journalism also were on hand, but the star among his peers was Henry Gibson, the comedian and actor currently appearing on the television series "Boston Legal."
Gibson said he and the cardinal have been "solid friends" since 1949 when they were classmates at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia. They and three other classmates referred to themselves as the "Rat Pack" and were involved in the debate team, drama club and other activities.
For Americans, becoming cardinal was 'on the edge' of happiest day