New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan was among 22 men inducted into cardinal status by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City Saturday morning.
Cardinals are entrusted with the service of love: love for God, love for his Church, an absolute and unconditional love for his brothers and sisters, even unto shedding their blood, if necessary (in defense of the faith), Benedict, 85, told the new cardinals.
Dolan and company were then given rings and red birettas (4-cornered hats), officially marking their new status.
According to MSNBC, the new cardinals are from countries including the U.S., Hong Kong, India, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium and Malta.
The group of new cardinals will one day elect one of their own to succeed Benedict.
Dolan, 62, has been rumored to be in the lead when the time comes.
Click through for photos of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the new group of cardinals as elected by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City.
New Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. with red biretta, a four-cornered hat, on the head is seen during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday. REUTERSNew York Cardinal Timothy Dolan served as archbishop of Milwaukee from 2002 until 2009.
REUTERSPope Benedict XVI places a red biretta, a four-cornered hat, on the head of new Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday. REUTERSPope Benedict XVI places a red biretta, a four-cornered hat, on the head of new Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday. REUTERSPope Benedict XVI places red biretta, a four-cornered hat, on the head of new Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday. REUTERSNew Cardinal Cardinal Timothy Dolan (C) of the U.S. gestures during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday.REUTERSNew Cardinal Cardinal Timothy Dolan (R) of the U.S. gestures during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict, putting his mark on his Church's future, on Saturday inducted 22 men into the exclusive group of cardinals who will one day elect one of their own to succeed him as leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics. Among the most prominent in the group is New York's Archbishop Dolan, who is already being touted by some Vatican experts as a possible future candidate to become the first American pope. REUTERSNew Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. with red biretta, a four-cornered hat, on the head is seen during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday. REUTERSNew Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. (L) receives guests in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday.REUTERSNew Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. (L) receives guests in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday. REUTERSNew Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. stands as he receives guests in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world on Saturday. REUTERS
