One On One With John Cardinal Foley

John Patrick Cardinal Foley

Function: Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Title:

Birthdate: Nov 11, 1935	Country: USA

Elevated: Nov 24, 2007	More information:

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One On One With John Cardinal Foley
Dec 13, 2007
Philadelphia's newest prince of the Roman Catholic Church -- John Cardinal Foley -- is home for the first time since his elevation at the Vatican Thanksgiving weekend.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3, Dec 11, 2007) ― Cardinal Foley met with reporters on Tuesday and he sat down for an exclusive one on one conversation with CBS 3's Pat Ciarrocchi.

This is a homecoming for John Cardinal Foley. It was a week celebrating masses, meeting friends, even offering a blessing at City Council this Thursday morning.

"I always was inspired by the ceremonies here in this room by the mass of course; I really learned how to be a priest by the example of other priests," John Cardinal Foley explained.

Now, John Cardinal Foley is the example -- celebrating his first homecoming mass at St. Charles Seminary. The place his priesthood was formed in 1957.

"It's a life, I never viewed it as a career, you live the priesthood of Jesus Christ, that's just wonderful," John Cardinal Foley said.

John Cardinal Foley, at the age of 72, has reached a pinnacle. He received the Cardinal's red hat in November.

As a Cardinal, he is among the closest advisors to Pope Benedict.

"He's a gentle, kindly man, he's a master, it's a joy to see him work," John Cardinal Foley said.

Still, it's work challenged in the United States by the sex abuse scandal.

"Priests can lose their souls, even some priests whom I had taught and whom I never would have suspected of these things," John Cardinal Foley said. "How many lives have been irreparably damaged by this, it must be terrible to be abused by somebody in whom you have the utmost trust."

At the seminary, only young men prepare to be priests, but their numbers are dwindling each year.

When asked about women as priests, John Cardinal Foley said: "No, and that seems to be by divine law. This is a theological law that God has determined that men will be priests."

Women may not be permitted to be priests, but the new Cardinal said each one of us can be saints.

Cardinal Foley will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and it is open to the public.

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