Newly appointed Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins joins Pope Benedict in morning mass
Posted February 19, 2012 9:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VATICAN CITY – Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins is one of the twenty-two brand new cardinals who celebrated mass with Pope Benedict Sunday morning.
The mass, at St. Peter’s Basilica, featured one of the new cardinals addressing the congregation about evangelization and spreading the word of the church, a major priority for Pope Benedict.
Again an estimated eight-thousand faithful flocked in to watch the morning service and the Pope’s speech to the city and world.
Generally Sunday’s service is reserved for the day when the Cardinals are given their ring, but the process was streamlined on Saturday with the Cardinals receiving their ring and hat.
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Two people from Toronto took part in Sunday’s service in Rome, bearing the gifts for Pope Benedict.
“Knots, ties, nerves, nervous tension, especially when we were holding onto the chalice,” said Cardinal Collin’s assistant Richard, who Collins asked to take part in the ceremony.
Meanwhile, another of his assistants, Sylvia, was in awe.
“I was so blank at that moment, it’s just overwhelming,” Sylvia said.
Cardinal Collins said he is against easing up on Catholic doctrine to try to appeal to more Canadians, calling it a nonsensical idea which wouldn’t bring more people through the doors.
