Cardinal Connell receives biretta before 35,000

Ireland's new cardinal received his red biretta from Pope John Paul II almost on the dot of noon at a colourful consistory ceremony in St Peter's Square yesterday.

Cardinal Connell was the 20th of 44 new cardinals to be created by the Pope in brilliant sunshine on the steps of St Peter's Basilica.

An estimated 35,000 people watched from the square, with the church's existing cardinals seated to the right of Pope John Paul, and approximately 400 bishops and archbishops in front of him.

Among the dignitaries present was the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. He was accompanied by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Mr Robert Molloy, and the secretary to the Government, Mr Dermot McCarthy.

At 9.25 a.m. the new cardinals were led in to the strains of Beethoven's Ode to Joy and took their seats in two lines of 22 opposite the Pope's dais.

Pope John Paul had to be helped by two assistants up the four steps to his chair. He read the names of all 44 new cardinals, in Italian, with each name being greeted by cheers and applause from the crowd.

The American and African cardinals secured the loudest response. Cardinal Battista Re, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation of Bishops, read a warm response to Pope John Paul on behalf of his 43 colleagues.

In his homily, Pope John Paul spoke of the day as "a great festival for the Universal Church, that is enriched by 44 new cardinals". He said: "You will be promoters of communion that will be of benefit to the whole church . . . Today you are proclaimed and made cardinals because you undertake, according to your competence, to ensure that the spirituality of communion grows in the church.

"Together we wish to set the sails to the wind of the Holy Spirit, scrutinising the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel," he said.

Afterwards each new cardinal approached Pope John Paul to have a red skullcap (zucchetto) and biretta placed on his head.

On receiving his biretta Cardinal Connell thanked Pope John Paul on behalf of the people of Ireland for the great honour, which he said was very special for Ireland. The Pope responded: "Ahh Ireland", of which the Cardinal later said: "I could detect in what he said his love for the country."

At this point each cardinal was assigned a titular church in Rome as a sign of his participation with the Pope in the pastoral care of the city.

Cardinal Connell was assigned the Church of San Silvestro in Capite, which is run by Irish priests from the Pallotine order.

After receiving a kiss of peace from the Pope, each new cardinal went to his new colleagues in the College of Cardinals and exchanged embraces. This was followed by a Prayer of the Faithful and the Our Father. The consistory ended when Pope John Paul blessed everyone.

Almost immediately Cardinal Connell set off for the Irish College, where a lunch in his honour was hosted by the college president, Mgr John Fleming.

Among the attendance were Cardinal Cahal Daly, Cardinal Thomas Winning of Scotland, and Cardinal Edward Cassidy of the Vatican's Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He is of Irish extraction and from Australia.

Also there was Archbishop Diarmuid Martin from Dublin who was recently appointed the Holy See's permanent observer at the UN in Geneva.

There, too, were the former papal nuncio to Ireland, Dr Gerada, and Mgr Pecorari, first secretary at the nunciature in Ireland.

The Catholic primate, Dr Sean Brady, led the contingent of Irish bishops, which included Archbishops Clifford of Cashel and Emly and Neary of Tuam. Also there were the Dublin auxiliary Bishops Moriarty, Walsh, Field, Drennan and O Ceallaigh, as well as Dr Forrestal of Ossory and Dr Ryan of Kildare and Leighlin.

Other bishops included Dr Murray of Limerick, Dr Boyce of Raphoe, Dr McKiernan, recently retired from Kilmore, and Dr Ben Devlin, a former Bishop of Gibraltar.

The president of St Patrick's College Maynooth, Mgr Dermot Farrell, was also there.

The politicians present were led by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Minister of State, Mr Robert Molloy. The party included TDs Mr Sean Haughey and Mr Pat Carey, Senator Joe Doyle, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Maurice Ahern.

Members of the judiciary there included Mr Justice Peter Kelly and Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen, both of the High Court. Also there was the former president of UCD, Dr Paddy Masterson.

There was strong representation from senior Dublin archdiocesan clergy as well as the heads of Irish religious congregations in Rome. Cardinal Connell's brother, Jim, his closest living relative, was also a guest.