Pope Installs 15 New Cardinals

(CBS/AP)  In an elaborate ceremony filled with symbolism, Pope Benedict XVI installed his first group of cardinals on Friday, promoting 15 prelates, including two Americans, to the elite club that chooses his successor.

The beaming new "princes" of the church processed onto the steps of St. Peter's Basilica to applause from a crowd of thousands in the square below, decked out for the first time in their crimson robes.

The installation of the new cardinals is Benedict's first public indication of the form his papacy will take, CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reports. While there were no signals of significant shifts, the selections did make it clear his judgments are based on merit, not politics or position.

First among equals among the new cardinals is William Levada, formerly the archbishop of San Francisco and Portland, Ore, who becomes the highest ranking and most powerful American in the Vatican. He holds the job of prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's chief doctrinal watchdog – a job Benedict held before he became pope.

The other new American cardinal, Boston's Sean O'Malley saw his red hat as a sign that his diocese, hard hit by the sex abuse scandals, is of concern to Benedict.

The elevation of Hong Kong's bishop, Joseph Zen, a hard line critic of China, showed that while the church wants better relations with the communist state, it won't bend principles.

Security was tight around the square, with uniformed and plainclothes police ringing the area.

Levada, speaking for all of the new cardinals, pledged unconditional loyalty to the pope, "free of concern for ourselves and our own lives." He said the scarlet color is a constant reminder of that.

The pope gave each man the three-peaked hat of a cardinal. They'll be given their rings during a Mass on Saturday.

Benedict announced Feb. 22 that he was naming the new cardinals, 12 of whom are under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave. After the consistory, there will be a total of 193 cardinals, 120 of whom can vote.

While electing a pontiff is the primary task of cardinals, they are also called on to advise the pope on running the Catholic Church.

On the eve of the consistory, Benedict summoned the entire College of Cardinals, including its newest members, for a daylong retreat and asked them to give him advice on pressing issues such as relations with Islam and reconciling with an ultraconservative group whose bishops were excommunicated two decades ago.

Cardinal George Pell of Australia said at the end of the day that he hoped the meeting would "become something of a tradition," noting in particular the discussions on relations with Islam.

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