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<V) CO o The Soulhern Diocese of Savannah OSS Vol. 81, No. 9 Thursday, March 1, 2001 $.50 PER ISSUE In largest consistory in history, pope creates 44 new cardinals Pope John Paul II watches as the 44 new cardinals he created congratulate each other during the consistory ceremony February 21 in Saint Peter's Square. By John Thavis Vatican City (CNS) residing over the largest consistory in history, Pope John Paul II created 44 new cardinals and asked them to “shine in wisdom and holiness” as they guide the church around the world. Gazing over a panorama of red vestments and pilgrims’ flags in Saint Peter’s Square February 21, the pope said that, in elevating the new cardi nals, the church was not celebrating earthly power but a sense of service and humility. “Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant,” the pope said at the start of his ser mon, quoting Christ’s words to his apostles. The new cardinals included the heads of major archdioceses, Vatican officials, eminent theolo gians and one longtime personal friend of the pon tiff, as well as several church leaders who were persecuted or hindered by authorities during their pastoral careers. They came from 27 countries and five conti nents—a geographical mix that the pope said high lighted the church’s global presence in the 21st century. Three Americans were among those cheered by friends, family and faithful as they knelt before the pope and received the cardinal’s traditional “red hat”: Cardinals Edward M. Egan of New York, Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington and Avery Dulles, a Jesuit theologian. The pope, dressed in gold vestments that glimmered in the sunshine, read the formula of creation and the names of all 44 cardinals at the start of a Liturgy of the Word. He asked them to be “fearless witnesses” of the Gospel in every comer of the earth. Later, the new cardinals knelt one by one before the pope and accepted the red biretta and a warm embrace from the pontiff. Three Eastern-rite prelates, however, declined the red hat because they felt it was inconsistent with their own tradi tions. It was the first time such an exemption had been granted, and the Vatican said it showed the pope’s respect for the Eastern churches. At Mass the next day in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul gave each of the new cardinals a gold ring as a “sign of dignity, of pastoral concern (Continued on page 11) D.C.C.W. helps integrate police Marist Brothers to leave diocese RCIA and the journey of faith —see page 3 —see page 3 —see page 7