CARDINALS ARE SERVANTS TO ALL IN ORDER TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2003 (VIS) - During a ceremony celebrated in St.
Peter's Square this morning, John Paul II created 30 new cardinals from 23
countries in what was the ninth such consistory of his pontificate.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the Pope read the formula for the
creation of the new cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Then newly created
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran thanked the Pope on behalf of all the cardinals.
Later the liturgy of the Word was celebrated and the homily was read by
Archbishop Leonardi Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the
Secretariat of State. The Holy Father began by noting that in this
consistory he will impose the beret upon 30 "worthy churchmen, keeping 'in
pectore' the name of another."

"Enriched by its new members, the College of Cardinals reflects the
diversity of races and cultures that characterizes the Christian people, and
highlights once again the unity of every part of the flock of Christ with
the Seat of the Bishop of Rome."

The Pope affirmed that "in carrying out his ministry, the Successor of the
Fisherman of Galilee counts on your faithful cooperation; he asks you to
accompany him in prayer, while he invokes the Holy Spirit so that the
communion among those whom the Lord 'has elected vicars of His son and has
made pastors' may never be broken."

"The deep red of the cardinal's robe evokes the color of blood and recalls
the heroism of the martyrs. It is the symbol of love for Jesus and for His
Church, a love which knows no limits: love even to the point of sacrificing
one's life, 'usque ad sanguinis effusionem'."

"For this reason, the gift that you receive is great, as is the
responsibility that it comes with it." After underscoring the duty of
"preaching with word and example," the Pope added that "this applies to
every pastor, but especially to you, dear and venerated members of the
College of Cardinals."

Pointing to the example of Jesus Christ Who became the servant of those
around him, the Holy Father emphasized that this "logic" of service is "in
clear contrast with that of the world: to die unto oneself in order to
become humble and detached servants of your brothers and sisters, rejecting
ever temptation to advance your career or benefit personally."

"Only if you become servants to all around you will you fulfill your
mission and help the Successor of Peter to be the 'servant of the servants
of God,' as my beloved predecessor Gregory the Great loved to call himself."

At the end of the homily, John Paul invited the new cardinals to make a
profession of faith and to swear fidelity and obedience to the Holy Father
and his successors. Then each cardinal, according to the order of creation,
approached the Pope who imposed the biretta on him and handed him the Bull
of Creation as cardinal and assignment of the title or diaconate church in
Rome, as a sign of participation in the pastoral solicitude of the Pope in
the city. After exchanging a sign of peace with the Pope, each new cardinal
greeted all the others.

Prayers were offered for the Holy Father, the Church, the new cardinals
and for peace during the universal prayer. John Paul II imparted the
apostolic blessing upon all and at the end sang the Marian antiphon "Sub
tuum praesidium."