VATICAN CITY, KOMPAS.com – Pope Francis reportedly kissed the hand of former Pope Benedict while visiting him after inaugurating 13 cardinal new to the Vatican.
Pope Francis and 13 newly appointed cardinals took the time to visit the former Pope who is now living in a convent, Saturday (28/11/2020).
The Vatican explains, Pope Benedict XVI the 93 year olds were delighted with their presence, and gave a blessing.
Also read: At 93 years old and almost 5 months old, Pope Benedict XVI is the oldest pope in history
The visit came after at the inauguration ceremony, Pope Francis warned the new cardinals not to abuse their positions.
To the new Princes of the Church, the Pope asked them not to prioritize personal interests or corruption by means of their titles.
Reported Daily Mail Monday (11/30/2020), the inauguration ceremony used health protocols in light of the current coronavirus outbreak.
Of the 13 new cardinals, two of them, from Brunei and the Philippines, could not come due to the travel ban.
Because of this, they are presented via the large screen displayed in St. Peter’s Basilica, where the audience keeps their distance and wears masks.
Most of the princes of the Church took off their masks when they approached Pope Francis, who is also not wearing a mask, to receive a red hat.
Only cardinal Wilton Gregory, the first to come from the African-American group, was still wearing a mouth guard when approached.
The ceremony, known as the consistory, is the seventh agenda for the Pope since he took office in 2013.
In addition, the inauguration also shows how Pope Francis selects cardinals from special groups or regions that have never had them.
One of them is the former Archbishop of Chiapas, Mexico, Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, who is from the indigenous tribe “Negeri Sombrero”.
Cardinal Esquivel came to the attention of his efforts to translate both the Bible and liturgical text from Latin into the foreign language of the tribe.
Also read: Pope Benedict XVI Reportedly Gravely Ill, Vatican Voices
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