Pope Benedict XVI held the third ordinary consistory of his pontificate, in which he appointed 24 new cardinals including the papal representative to the Order of Malta, Paolo Sardi, in St. Peter’s Basilica on 20 November. In the same consistory, the Order of Malta’s chaplains Francesco Monterisi, Mauro Piacenza, Gianfranco Ravasi, Paolo Romeo and Donald William Wuerl were also created cardinals.

During the ceremony, the new cardinals knelt before the Pope to receive the red berretta and the bull of creation containing the «title», that is the church assigned to them in Rome. Cardinal Sardi was given the Deaconry of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in via Tuscolana.

“No one is master in the Church but all are called, all are sent out, all are reached and guided by divine grace. And this is also our security!” Benedict XVI asserted in his homily to the consistory. “It is not the logic of domination, of power according to human criteria but rather the logic of bending down to wash feet, the logic of service, the logic of the Cross that is the root of all exercise of authority,” the Pope added to the cardinals.

The following day Benedict XVI presided at a concelebrated mass in St. Peter’s with the 24 new cardinals, including twenty “electors”, appointed during the consistory. The Pope gave them the cardinal’s ring “the sign of dignity, pastoral care and the most solid communion with the See of Peter”.

The Order of Malta sent a numerous delegation, including members of the Sovereign Council and the Prelate, to participate in the consistory and after the ceremony it expressed the entire Order’s great joy to the Cardinalis Patronus Paolo Sardi and the chaplains for their appointment.

A numerous delegation from the Federal Association of the United States was also present at the consistory to congratulate Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, its principal chaplain.