Pope Benedict XVI has told his first group of new cardinals to ensure that the Catholic Church's concern for the poor and needy challenges the world with a powerful statement on the civilisation of love.
The 78-year-old pontiff created 15 new cardinals today at a colourful ceremony in St Peter's Square in the Vatican.
Dublin's Cardinal Desmond Connell, who is celebrating his 80th birthday, was among those taking part in the consistory ceremony in which the cardinals received their symbols of office.
Among the new cardinals is Boston's Archbishop Sean O'Malley, who took over the archdiocese in 2003 following the clerical sexual abuse scandal which led to the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law.
The Pope's successor as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop William Joseph Levada, is also among the new cardinals. Cardinal Levada, who was the first to receive the red hat, has an Irish grandmother.
The new cardinals represent 11 nations, including the
archbishops of Manila in the Philippines, Caracas in Venezuela, and Bologna in Italy.
Tomorrow, the Pope will conclude the consistory with a special Mass in St Peter's Basilica.
