Pope Francis creates cardinals, appeals for peace and against “any discrimination”

[hrmjustin]

David Gibson

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis created his first batch of new cardinals on Saturday (Feb. 22) and used the ceremony – which featured a surprise appearance by Pope Benedict XVI – to launch a new appeal for peace amid the violence racking so many countries.

In his remarks, Francis first focused on the plight of Christians but in an extemporaneous addition to his prepared speech he also called on the church “to fight any discrimination” and “exclusion.”

“The Church needs your compassion, especially at this time of pain and suffering for so many countries throughout the world,” Francis told the 18 new cardinals who were present in St. Peter’s Basilica, along with hundreds of other cardinals and bishops whose colorful vestments and diverse origins offered a grand tableau of global Catholicism.

Adding to the drama of the day, Benedict was an unexpected participant at the ceremony, his first public appearance at a Vatican rite since he resigned the papacy on Feb. 28 last year following years of scandal and dysfunction in the Roman Curia.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/02/22/pope-francis-creates-cardinals-appeals-peace-discrimination/

[cbayer]

1. Hmm….. Benedict shows his face.

I wonder what that is about.

[hrmjustin]

2. It will be interesting to find out why they brought him out.

[Walk away]

3. The Real Pope made a guest appearance!

And the Spokes-Pope is against discrimination with the exception of the church he is supposed to be the head of.

What a proud day!

[hrmjustin]

4. Francis is the real pope and I hope that he will give actions and more than words.

[Walk away]

5. Sure, and the fairies made the pedophile priest disappear...

and the church is going to give away it's wealth to the poor.

[hrmjustin]

6. Well I hope that he puts meat to his words.

[eomer]

7. Great, so how many of the Cardinals are women? All of them hopefully, to catch up.

Great to see they are ending discrimination and exclusion. Maybe now that we have women Cardinals one of them will be the next Pope.

[hrmjustin]

8. We can always hope and pray.

[eomer]

9. We can do more than that but I think you just did, implicitly.

My wife and I left the Catholic Church. We did it for a number of reasons but one of them was because of the discrimination against women. I'm an atheist so that also had something to do with it but I was actually fairly comfortable with that in our parish and with the parish priest. My main reason was their horrendous (evil) response to child molestation. Anyway having left now all I can do is criticize them publicly. You did just criticize them, implicitly. I think we agree.

[hrmjustin]

10. There is plenty to be critical of with the RCC. I left them but I wish them well.