Cardinals are often referred to as “princes of the church,” a reflection of their prestigious roles of advising the pope and electing his successor, as well as their often-posh residences. If Francis was upset by the reports, it didn’t show when he placed the prestigious red biretta, the square, three-ridged hat cardinals wear, on Zerbo’s head. As he did with the other four cardinals, Francis gave the African prelate a fraternal embrace and said a few words to him. “It was a very emotional moment for me,” Zerbo told The Associated Press when he made a brief appearance at a post-ceremony reception at the Vatican. Francis, an Argentine and the first Jesuit pope, told his newest cardinals to be focused on the suffering in the world.

Source: National Post June 28, 2017 14:37 UTC