The White Gives the Blue Some Red

Well friends I am still under the weather and have not left my room in three days but I am feeling a bit better today so hopefully by the weekend I will be on my feet in the lanes of Rome again.  In the meantime though the Holy Father (White) has given a gift to the United States Church (the Blue) by announcing today the elevation of Archbishop James Harvey to the College of Cardinal (the Red).  Archbishop Harvey has served in the Holy See for more than 30 years as a diplomat and currently as head of the Papal Household.  Once created Cardinal he will assume a new position as Archpriest of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four Papal Basilica's of Rome.

Here is Archbishop Harvey, I took these pictures at the Audience we had with Pope Benedict.  On the Right is Archbishop Harvey going over seating and protocols prior to the audience with the head of the Papal Gentlemen.

Cardinal designate Harvey on Right

 Here he is seated next to Pope Benedict on the left.  Today at the Papal Audience he was in the same position when the Pope made his surprise announcement of the creation of 6 new Cardinals, true to his diplomatic training he made no reaction until the end when he went over and thanked the Holy Father quietly then escorted the guest to see the Holy Father.

Cardinal designate Harvey to the left of B16

 And here is the Basilica he will be Archpriest at, St. Paul Outside the Walls.  The last American to be an Archpriest of a Basilica was His Eminence Bernard Cardinal Law, he is retired here in Rome and was Archpriest of St. Mary Major prior to his retirement.  Also living here in Rome is Cardinal O'Brien who is Grand Master of the Knights of the Holy Sepluchre.

St. Paul Outside the Walls

Cardinals have three ranks within their college.  There are Cardinal Bishops, Cardinal Priests and Cardinal Deacons.  This can be confusing to people since not all Cardinals are Bishops but most are of the Order of Bishop.  The Popes typically name some men of the Order of Priest who are over 80 to the College and thus not eligible to vote but they can attend the conclave.  The three ranks are of title with Cardinal Bishop being the highest rank, usually reserved for those Cardinals who serve here in Rome in some capacity.  They have a head called the Cardinal Dean who convene's them upon the death of the Pope and calls the consistory, he also acts as intermediary between Popes.  Their title comes from a word meaning "hinge", as in door hinge.  The door being the Pope who is the Holy Door, a door cannot perform its function with a proper set of hinges to assist it.  The Cardinals are the Pope's "Cabinet" or Council to use modern terminology.  They are his closest collaborators, or at least should be.  Blessed Pope John XXIII was deeply wounded when he proposed a Second Council to be held at the Vatican, he made his announcement at St. Paul Outside the Walls to the College of Cardinals and they sat in silence though he expected collaboration.

This is the smallest consistory since 1977 when Pope Paul VI named 6 new Cardinals, among them was a young newly ordained German Bishop named Joseph Ratizinger!