Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
February 28, 2001
U.S. cardinals say receiving `red hat' was joyful, humbling
Vatican City (CNS) — Three new U.S. cardinals who received the "red hat'' from Pope John Paul II described the experience as joyful, emotional and even humbling.
Cardinals Edward M. Egan of New York, Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington and Avery Dulles, a Jesuit theologian, were among the 44 prelates inducted into the College of Cardinals Feb. 21, in a ceremony attended by 40,000 people in St. Peter's Square.
Cardinal Egan said the bestowing of the red biretta was an emotional moment for him, as well as a "great pleasure and a great joy.''
He said he was joining an institution whose members have often suffered for the church — in keeping with the willingness to shed one's own blood for the faith, which is symbolized by the cardinals' red robes.
Several of the existing and newer cardinals have been imprisoned for the faith, he noted. While "it's not going to happen in New York,'' it's something that is not beyond the realm of possibility elsewhere, he said.
During consistory week in Rome, Cardinal Egan was frequently surrounded by a moving throng of journalists — an attention that will only increase now that he is a cardinal. He said he does not mind the interest, but jokingly warned that he's gotten used to "a lot of friendly press.''
"Everything I read is very nice. You're being very, very good to me — and I want you to continue to follow that inclination,'' he told reporters.
That was followed by a question about Catholics who do not follow the church's teachings. The cardinal good-naturedly threw the question back.
"Do you know any religion, do you know any organization, do you know any society, do you know any club in which everybody follows every rule? Now I know the Catholic Church is one exception, but I wouldn't be too upset that we don't get it 100 percent all the time,'' he said.
Cardinal McCarrick said after the ceremony that several thoughts ran through his mind as he prepared to kneel before the pope and receive the signs of his new status. For one thing, he said, he was hoping he would not trip as he came down the steps.
On another level, he said he was thinking that "hopefully this will be a graced moment that God will use to make me able to work better in his work.'' He said he found himself deep in prayer just before the big moment.
Cardinal McCarrick said he was impressed with the "vast variety'' of experience and talent in the College of Cardinals. The new group included gifted theologians, administrators and prelates who have suffered for their faith.
"They are so different. That is the fascinating thing,'' he said. "Not only do they come from different places and different backgrounds, but they have different points of view that are the product of their life experiences.''
Cardinal Avery Dulles, the last of the new cardinals to receive his "red hat'' from the pope, said he did not even think the pope knew him personally, though he had met him a few times in groups.
"I know him less well than any of the others who were there,'' he told reporters after the ceremony.
"It's a humbling experience to be part of this august body,'' he said.
In the past the pope has relied on cardinals to be special advisers on universal church affairs. Cardinal Dulles said that if he were asked to give advice, he would say that the church's basic problems today are practical ones, like transmitting the faith.
He said young people especially are being bombarded by the media with values having to do more with comfort and wealth than with sacrifice or obedience to authority — values which are "much more difficult to sell in our culture.''
Cardinal Dulles also said he thought polarization in the church today was "scandalous,'' and said he would like to see Catholics listen and learn from each other, "not go into corners and start shooting bullets."
