Pope creates five new cardinals

Pope Francis presided over an Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of Cardinals on Wednesday in St Peter's Basilica.

The five new Cardinals are: Jean Zerbo, 73, Archbishop of Bamako, Mali; Juan José Omella, 71, Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain; Anders Arborelius, 67, Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden; Luis Marie-Ling Mangkhanekhoun, 73, Apostolic Vicar of Paksé, Laos; Gregorio Rosa Chávez, 74, Bishop of Mulli, Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of San Salvador, El Savador.

During his homily, the Pope told the new cardinals: "Jesus is walking ahead of you' and he asks you to follow him resolutely on his way. He calls you to look at reality, not to let yourselves be distracted by other interests or prospects."

"He has not called you to become 'princes' of the Church, to 'sit at his right or at his left, but rather calls you to serve like Him and with Him, along with the Father and your brothers and sisters."

As the Lord did, the Pope urged, face the sin of the world and its effects on today's humanity. "Follow Him, and walk ahead of the holy people of God, with your gaze fixed on the Lord's Cross and Resurrection."

Pope Francis concluded, praying that the Holy Spirit "bridge every gap between our hearts and the heart of Christ, so that our lives may be completely at the service of God and all our brothers and sisters."

After the consistory Pope Francis and the new cardinals made a brief visit to Pope Benedict XVI in the Mater Ecclesia Monastery in the Vatican Gardens.

On 29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Pope will celebrate Mass with the new cardinals, the College of Cardinals, and the metropolitan bishops appointed during the year.