The CEI's New Movement

So the long weekend for the "new movements" is continuing apace. And -- aside from the three cielini cardinals -- another of the A-grade ecclesiastical luminaries being showcased is Cardinal Carlo Caffarra of Bologna, who was elevated to the College in Benedict XVI's first class of cardinals last March.

Well, the Roman buzz of late is saying that Caffarra -- who enjoys close ties to Opus Dei and even closer ties to the Pope's beloved Comunione e Liberazione, not to mention Ratzinger, himself -- is quickly becoming the front-runner to take Cardinal Camillo Ruini's place when Ruini steps down in the fall as head of the CEI, the Italian episcopal conference. (Remember that Ruini's departure from the post is seen as so seismic even the secular press is referring to what follows as the "Dopo-Ruini" -- the "Post-Ruini" era.)

Ignacio Ingrao hones in on the movement in the latest edition of Panorama, saying that "The number of bishops" who converged on Caffarra to congratulate the new cardinal at the recent assembly of the Italian bishops "wasn't lost on the participants." Not to mention "the particular affection and esteem which link him to the Pope," who, of course, will appoint the new CEI strongman. (As the Pope is primate of Italy, its episcopal conference is the only one in which the president is not elected by the body of bishops.)

It's also noted that, as opposed to Ruini, who's seen as being intricately linked with the leaders of the Italian center-right, Caffarra -- who marks his 68th birthday today -- enjoys close ties not only with Pier Ferdinando Casini, the head of the country's Christian Democratic party, but also with the center-left premier, Romano Prodi.

It's a difference of ad intra culture: "Caffarra grew up along the banks of the CL," Ingrao writes, "Ruini in that of Catholic Action."

The magazine says that, in his three years as archbishop of Bologna, Caffarra has been "the man of surprises," pursuing "bipartisan relationships with the worlds of politics and culture, keeping a marked distance from the factions."

It'll be something to see if, indeed, it all pans out.

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Red Pope Gets His Choice

Score one for the prefect of Propaganda Fide. More importantly, score yet another one for Vox Clara.

In an announcement that should come as a surprise to no one, earlier today Benedict XVI named Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Agra as archbishop of Bombay. The new head of India's most prominent local church'll get to pay his thank-you visits next week, when the commission for English liturgical translations meets again at Culto Divino; Ozzie serves as VC's second vice-chair.

Elsewhere on the Roman beat on this Saturday, the Pope received Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, SJ, the retired archbishop of Milan, in yet another private audience.... Martini's been received more than any other non-curial cardinal, active or otherwise. Interesting, eh?

FYI, the superlative Italian journal 30 giorni just published Martini's reflections at the 50th anniversary of Pius XII's encyclical on the Sacred Heart, Haurietis aquas. Also "in" today were Cardinals Castrillion, Martino and Jaime Ortega y Alamino, the archbishop of Havana.

Yesterday, B16 had a sit-down with Cardinal Carlo Caffarra of Bologna.... But was the CEI on the docket? We'll see soon enough.

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THE CONSISTORY: I Titoli

The abbracci among cardinals new and old continue....

The one great mystery leading into today was the titles, or titular churches, to which each new cardinal would be assigned. The cardinals are, of course, the historical successors to the clergy of Rome, and this link is most emphasized by the entrustment to each of a particular parish church in the city, which they serve as a sort of honorary protector (and a financial one in many real ways).

Obviously, some jockeying goes into this, as getting a nice titular is a mark of pride. And it's not a foreign concept for the Romans engage in contortions to be given a church which belonged to a mentor or friend.... You get the idea.

The cardinals-designate usually find out what they're getting the night before, so they can arrange the possession-taking Mass (another rite rich in tradition) as quickly as possible.

Anyways, here's the list of titles assigned today straight from the Press Office.

1. Card. WILLIAM JOSEPH LEVADA, Diaconia di Santa Maria in Dominica

2. Card. FRANC RODÉ, C.M., Diaconia di San Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella

3. Card. AGOSTINO VALLINI, Diaconia di San Pier Damiani ai Monti di San Paolo

4. Card. JORGE LIBERATO UROSA SAVINO, Titolo di Santa Maria ai Monti

5. Card. GAUDENCIO B. ROSALES, Titolo del Santissimo Nome di Maria a Via Latina

6. Card. JEAN-PIERRE RICARD, Titolo di Sant’Agostino

7. Card. ANTONIO CAÑIZARES LLOVERA, Titolo di San Pancrazio

8. Card. NICHOLAS CHEONG JINSUK, Titolo di Santa Maria Immacolata di Lourdes a Boccea

9. Card. SEAN PATRICK O’MALLEY, O.F.M. Cap., Titolo di Santa Maria della Vittoria

10. Card. STANISŁAW DZIWISZ, Titolo di Santa Maria del Popolo

11. Card. CARLO CAFFARRA, Titolo di San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini

12. Card. JOSEPH ZEN ZE-KIUN, S.D.B., Titolo di Santa Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca

13. Card. ANDREA CORDERO LANZA DI MONTEZEMOLO, Diaconia di Santa Maria in Portico

14. Card. PETER POREKU DERY, Diaconia di Sant’Elena fuori Porta Prenestina

15. Card. ALBERT VANHOYE, S.I., Diaconia di Santa Maria della Mercede e Sant’Adriano a Villa Albani

B16 had a very sweet moment with the wheelchair-bound Cardinal Dery, by the way, when the Ghanaian was brought forward to receive his red hat....


PHOTO: Reuters/Chris Helgren

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