The New Normal

Red Hats and Gold Rings.

The stuff that this blog is made of.

That is why on this special occasion --- the creation of Pope Francis’ “First Class” ---  a new blog entry is definitely in order.

Come to think of it, there are many reasons why I should be writing about this Consistory.

For one, there is a Filipino in this batch -- Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, the Archbishop of Cotabato.

The last time a Filipino Cardinal was created Cardinal was on November 24, 2012, the Solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe. 

It was the “surprise” consistory of Benedict XVI’s pontificate.  

Aside from being the second Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of Cardinals within the same year, it was one with the least number of Cardinals named.   

It was also his last.

(Looking back, that highly irregular Consistory was justified when he announced his resignation three months later. Aside from making sure that the number of Cardinal-Electors was at a maximum, he also wanted certain bishops to be in the Conclave that would elect his successor.) 

Of course, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila,

“Asia’s Rising Star” and a  papabile in the 2013 Conclave, was named in that Consistory.  Who could forget how Cardinal Chito wept...and how a fatherly Benedict XVI consoled him?

(Did I mention I was in a train to Florence when the names of the 6 Cardinals-designate in that Consistory were announced on October 24, 2012? I didn't think so.)

Anyway, back to Quevedo.

Well, what about him?

Much has already been written about this almost 75 year old archbishop since Pope Francis announced his name as part of the first batch of Cardinals of his pontificate.

He is the 8^th Filipino cardinal. 

He is the first from the conflict-torn region of Mindanao in Southern Philippines, which is dominated by our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Described as an intellectual heavyweight, he became President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Secretary General of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.

He comes from the “peripheries of the world,” not the traditional cardinalatial sees, and therefore, represents the poor.

His colleagues regard him as a "cardinal of peace."

And that, in a nutshell, sums up Orlando Cardinal Quevedo.

Here are screen grabs of Cardinal Quevedo’s creation as cardinal, courtesy of EWTN.

Aside from Quevedo, another Sacred College "inductee" worth mentioning is the successor of Pope Francis as Archbishop of Buenos Aires --- Mario Aurelio Poli.

Aside from working with him in Argentina, Vaticanistas say Francis sees himself in Cardinal Poli in terms of pastoral approach and way-of-life.  

Perhaps it is no coincidence that Poli was given the titular church of S. Roberto Bellarmine, Pope Francis' assigned church in Rome, when he was still Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio.

But what was most noteworthy and unexpected about today’s Consistory was not the low key or lackluster celebration of this otherwise pomp and pageant-filled ceremony.

Although journalists covering the beat obviously tried to exercise restraint, one could not help but notice the coverage given to someone who may have stolen everyone's thunder.

Enter....

...the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI.

To be sure, this is nothing unusual, especially since Benedict XVI has made several appearances, whether in public or through the media, ever since he stepped down from the Chair of St. Peter, which, incidentally is the Feast being commemorated today.

However, this was his first joint liturgical appearance with Pope Francis.  For lack of a better adjective, this is obviously another FIRST in an already long list of firsts in this Papacy as well as in the Church's history.

In deference to Pope Francis, who greeted the Pope Emeritus as he entered and exited the Basilica for the ceremony, comments in social media, news photos, and live broadcast videos of Benedict XVI were kept at a minimum.

Yeah right.

In case you missed it, here's a preview of that "minimum coverage."

Here is Benedict XVI being escorted by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, and the Prefect of the Papal Household (and Papa Benedetto's live-in personal secretary), Archbishop Georg Ganswein.  

Here's the Pope Emeritus being flanked by Cardinals, about a hundred fifty or so of them, who attended the Consistory in preparation for the Synod on the Family convoked by Pope Francis in October. 

Here he is reading the liturgical guide...

Despite the media hype, however, emphasis was made on the fact that Benedict XVI removed his white skull cap, a sign of respect for the Pope, as he greeted the current Successor of St. Peter. 

The Emeritus' outfit also spoke for itself.  As a bishop who was in attendance but not presiding, Benedict XVI, who is known to be a stickler for liturgy and a lover of fine vestments, was expected to be in watered-down papal choir (mozetta and rochet on top of his cassock), much like the cardinals attending the ceremony. However, he was curiously dressed in a grecca (double-breasted overcoat) and capeless papal cassock.

Although these are only a handful of photos and screen grabs from that hour-and-a-half long ceremony, these images speak volumes.

To say the least, these are still very exciting times...even if a year has already passed since the transition. 

This is not the list time we will be seeing the Pope and the Pope Emeritus in one liturgical celebration. (Next up is the Canonization of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II, where it is highly anticipated that Benedict XVI will attend.)

This is not the last time we will be seeing two white skull caps being worn by two bishops at the same time.  (Unless of course, I'm in that event as well. Kidding!)

This is the new normal.

But this is still the Church.