It was a pretty speedy ceremony that expanded the Church’s College of Cardinals to 213, with 125 of them being electors. One of them, of course, being Cardinal Wim Eijk (I’ll have to start using another tag in posts about him from now on). Upon watching the live stream of the creation of the 22 new cardinals, few things stood out, such as the visible emotion on the face of Cardinal Prosper Grech’s he came forward to receive the biretta and the lengthy conversation that Cardinal John Tong Hon started with the Holy Father. Most of all, though, it was a scene of joy, for the new cardinals of course, but also for the Church as a whole. These men accepted the invitation to carry more tasks, more responsibility on their shoulders, and they did so with joy.

For now, let’s share that joy with a few more photos of today’s main event.

Cardinal Eijk has received the ring and biretta from the Holy Father

Other cardinals congratulate Cardinal Eijk

The youngest member of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Rainer Woelki

Before the start of the consistory, Cardinals-designate Eijk, Dolan and Tong Hon

Before the consistory, Cardinal-designate Monteiro de Castro chats with Cardinal Cañizares Llovera

With his trademark enthusiasm, Cardinal Dolan greets Cardinal Sodano

As he enters St. Peter's, Pope Benedict XVI p[asses Cardinals-designate Dolan, Betori, Woelki and Tong Hon

All doubts about his health cast aside, Cardinal Becker

Cardinal George Alencherry blesses the faithful in St. Peter's Square

An emotional Cardinal Grech

Photo credits:
[1], [2], [3], [4], [11] Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
[5], [7], [8] AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
[6] AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito
[9], [10] Reuters/Tony Gentile

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