Father John Connor, LC greets Cardinal Fernando Vérgez

On the afternoon of Saturday, August 27, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis presided over the Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of 20 new cardinals. Among the list of new cardinals was Mons. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ, who accompanied the process of review and renewal of Regnum Christi, and Mons. Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, the first Legionary of Christ to be created a cardinal.

The Holy Father chose the image of fire, based on the Gospel of Saint Luke (“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”), for his reflection during the Ordinary Public Consistory. Pope Francis invited us to consider the two ways this symbol takes shape and, in light of them, to pray for the cardinals, “especially for you, who are precisely receiving this dignity and responsibility during this celebration,” he affirmed.

With the flame of the Spirit, “the Lord wants to communicate to us his apostolic courage, his zeal for the salvation of every human being, without excluding anyone,” said Pope Francis. “In the embers, this fire burns, particularly, in prayer of adoration, when we are in silence near the Eucharist and savor the humble, discreet, hidden presence of the Lord, like a fire in embers, so that this very presence becomes food for our daily life,” added the Holy Father.

After the homily, the Pope pronounced the formula of creation of the cardinals, who swore fidelity to him and his successors “until the shedding of blood.” One by one, they approached the seat to receive, kneeling, the symbols of the cardinalate: the red zucchetto, the biretta, the ring, and the papal bull with the assignment of the title or diaconate. Pope Francis conferred the title of Archbishop on Cardinal Fernando Vérgez.

In a recent publication of Vida Nueva magazine, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez emphasized that “being the first Legionary cardinal entails an even greater responsibility for all its members.” Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga works in the Roman Curia, where he is president of the Governorship of the State of Vatican City and president of the Pontifical Commission for that state.

As a personal reflection, Cardinal Fernando highlights that he did not expect the appointment: “The first thing I felt was gratitude to God and the Pope for the trust placed in me. I have a responsibility to bear witness to Christ with greater enthusiasm,” he emphasized.

After the ceremony, Father John Connor, LC congratulated Cardinal Fernando Vérgez on behalf of all of Regnum Christi, and in a note sent to all Legionaries of Christ, Father Aaron Smith, LC, international director of the communication office, said that “as a religious family, we rejoice for our brother Mons. Fernando Vérgez, LC, president of the Governorship of the State of Vatican City, whom Pope Francis created a cardinal during today’s consistory. Likewise, Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ was created a Cardinal, who has accompanied us closely and with concern over the past years.”

Subsequently, as has become tradition, Pope Francis, together with the 20 new cardinals, paid a courtesy visit to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

(Image credit: Rome Reports)

Creation of 20 cardinals ceremony