History is made today in the
annals of Nigerian Church. Archbishop John Onaiyekan joins the college of
the Cardinals. In the just concluded ordinary public consistory held in Vatican
on Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI created six cardinals among whom is Archbishop
John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria.
Pope Benedict XVI took the
universality of the Church as the theme of his allocution to the participants
in the Consistory during which he created six new Cardinals: Archbishop James
M. Harvey, Prefect of the Papal Household; His Beatitude, Bechara Boutros Raï,
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch in Lebanon; His Beatitude, Baselios Cleemis
Thottunkal, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum in India and head of the
Syro-Malankara Church; Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria;
Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogotá, Colombia; and Archbishop Luis Antonio
Tagle of Manila in the Philippines.
The Holy Father focused on the meaning of the
word, “Catholic” – “A word,” he said, “which indicates an essential feature of
the Church and her mission.” The Holy Father went on to say, “What makes the
Church catholic is the fact that Christ in his saving mission embraces all
humanity.” Pope Benedict explained that the universality of the Church flows
from the universality of God’s unique plan of salvation for the world, and that
this universal character emerges clearly on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy
Spirit fills the first Christian community with his presence, so that the
Gospel may spread to all nations, causing the one People of God to grow in all
peoples. “Situated within the context and the perspective of the Church’s unity
and universality,” said Pope Benedict, “is the College of Cardinals: it
presents a variety of faces, because it expresses the face of the universal
Church.” The Holy Father went on to explain that in Saturday’s Consistory, he
wanted especially to highlight the fact that the Church is the Church of all
peoples.
Welcoming the assembly and the
representatives of different countries, the The Holy Father said , I
cordially greet the official Delegations of the different countries, the
bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and lay faithful of the various diocesan
communities and all those who share in the joy of the new members of the
College of Cardinals – their family, friends and co-workers. The new Cardinals,
who represent different dioceses around the world, are henceforth associated by
a special title with the Church of Rome, and in this way they reinforce the
spiritual bonds that unite the whole Church, brought to life by Christ and gathered
around the Successor of Peter. At the same time, today’s rite expresses the
supreme value of fidelity.
Addressing and exhorting the new cardinals, The
Pope said, "Indeed, the oath that you are about to take, venerable
brothers, contains words filled with profound spiritual and ecclesial
significance: “I promise and I swear, from now on and for as long as I live, to
remain faithful to Christ and his Gospel, constantly obedient to the Holy
Apostolic Roman Church”. And when you receive the red biretta, you will be
reminded that it means “you must be ready to conduct yourselves with fortitude,
even to the shedding of your blood, for the increase of the Christian faith,
for the peace and well-being of the people of God”. Whereas the consignment of
the ring is accompanied by the admonition: “Know that your love for the Church
is strengthened by your love for the Prince of the Apostles”.
In these gestures and the words
that accompany them, we see an indication of the identity that you assume today
in the Church. From now on, you will be even more closely and intimately linked
to the See of Peter: the titles and deaconries of the churches of Rome will
remind you of the bond that joins you, as members by a very special title, to
this Church of Rome, which presides in universal charity. Particularly through
the work you do for the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, you will be my valued
co-workers, first and foremost in my apostolic ministry for the fullness of
catholicity, as Pastor of the whole flock of Christ and prime guarantor of its
doctrine, discipline and morals".
Dear friends, The Holy Father concludes, "
let us praise the Lord, who “with manifold gifts does not cease to enrich his
Church spread throughout the world" and reinvigorates her in the perennial
youth that he has bestowed upon her. To him we entrust the new ecclesial
service of these our esteemed and venerable Brothers, that they may bear
courageous witness to Christ, with a lively growing faith and unceasing
sacrificial love".
< Rev.
Fr. Val. Onwunjiogu, reporting
from Rome.
