VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI convened the College of Cardinals for the first time since his election last year, asking them Thursday for advice on pressing issues facing the Catholic Church, including relations with Islam.
The cardinals met on the eve of a ceremony to formally elevate 15 new “princes” of the church – additions the pope has said reflected Catholicism’s global reach.
Benedict invited the cardinals to offer their thoughts Thursday on issues facing the church, including the split with the ultraconservative group Society of St. Pius X, founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
The cardinals also were asked what to do with bishops and cardinals who must retire by 75 but are still able to work.
After the session, Cardinal George Pell of Australia said he hoped the meeting would “become something of a tradition.”
“I think the general directions was we have to be clearheaded, charitable and know what we’re about and obviously support all those moderate forces everywhere throughout the world who are happy to talk and to try to work for the common good,” he said.
Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos said the Vatican was studying the “best formula” for reconciling with the Lefebvre movement.
Lefebvre founded the Switzerland-based Society of St. Pius X in 1969, opposing many of the liberalizing reforms of the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council, including the use of local languages in the Mass instead of Latin.
The Vatican excommunicated Lefebvre in 1988 after he consecrated four bishops without Rome’s consent. The bishops were excommunicated as well.
In August, Benedict met with the current head of the society, Bishop Bernard Fellay, who is one of the excommunicated bishops. Both sides said afterward they had agreed to take steps to resolve their differences.
Fellay has said he believes Rome will grant the society a special status within the church, known as an apostolic administration, where the society and local bishops would have “parallel authority” over Lefebvre’s followers.
Benedict’s No. 2, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, opened the meeting by thanking the pope for seeking the cardinals’ advice, saying that “shows us the importance your holiness places on the votes of our college.”
During today’s concistory, or elevation ceremony, each new cardinal will take an oath and receive his “biretta,” the red hat that symbolizes the dignity of the office as well as his willingness to give his life to promote Christianity.
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