February 20, 2012. (Romereports.com) To officially close the consistory, the Pope  greeted the 22 new cardinals and their family members at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. One by one, Benedict XVI greeted all 22 of them. Some gave gifts to the Pope, but before that, he greeted his new advisers in their respective language.

Benedict XVI
“I am pleased to extend my warm greeting to the English speaking prelates whom I had the joy of raising to the dignity of Cardinals in Saturday's consistory.”


There was a loud applause for Cardinal Lucian Muresan of Romania, who also serves as Major Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Iulia. After the Pope gave his speech, he greeted the new cardinals, along with two of their family members.

Some of them took the opportunity to give the Pope a gift. New Indian Cardinal George Alencherry gave him a framed image of Jesus Christ. German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki,  gave him a ceramic sculpture of Berlin's iconic bear.  The Cardinal of Hong Kong, John Tong Hon, gave him framed passage from the Gospel.

This mark's the Pope's last meeting with the new cardinals, who now as advisers, will work more closely with Benedict XVI


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 -BN