The consistories at which Pope John XXIII elevates 23 prelates to the College of Cardinals this week are an elaborate series of ceremonies taking place over a four-day period. First comes a secret consistory at which the Pope recites to the old cardinals the names of those he proposes to elevate. The cardinals nod their assent. Immediately, messengers fan out to deliver the biglietto—the letter informing each cardinal-elect of his elevation (tradition demands that he feign surprise on receiving the letter). Two days later the new cardinals join the Pope at an "intimate" consistory, during which he hands each one the scarlet biretta. Then comes a public consistory, at which old and new cardinals mingle and the Pope presents the galero—the round, flat red hat which is the traditional symbol of the cardinalate. Last of all is another secret consistory, at which the new cardinals get their rings and are assigned their titular churches.
Of the 23 new cardinals, 13 are Italian. Of these, all but three hold posts either in the Curia, the church's central administration, or in the Vatican diplomatic service. Of the non-Italians, only one (France's André Jullien) is a Curia member; the rest are "pastoral" cardinals, i.e., in charge of their own sees.
DIPLOMATS
Domenico Tardini, 70, is the most important man at the Vatican after the Pope. As Secretary of State, he is a combination of prime minister and foreign secretary—a field he has been thoroughly familiar with as Pius XII's Pro-Secretary of State for Extraordinary Affairs. He is a jovial lover of art and music, with a Vatican reputation for caustic wit. His hobby: Villa Nazareth, an orphanage for boys, which he founded.
Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, 75, born to a poor peasant family in the north Italian town of Brisighella, served as a young priest in the Curia, became an expert on canon law. Named apostolic delegate to the U.S. hierarchy in 1933 and stationed in Washington, he has served since then as unofficial diplomatic contact between the Vatican and the U.S. Government. In appointing him cardinal, Pope John made a rare exception to the rule that close relatives are not to be members of the College of Cardinals at the same time: Cicognani's brother Gaetano (two years older) has been a cardinal since 1953.
Fernando Cento, 75, wanted to be an engineer as a boy in Pollenza, but yielded to his mother's pleading and entered a theological seminary, graduated with honors in only 2½ years. Appointed Bishop of Acireale in Sicily in 1922, he attracted attention by pulling his poverty-stricken diocese out of its downhill course. He became nuncio to Venezuela in 1926, to Peru in 1936, to Belgium in 1946, to Portugal in 1953, is famed for his sense of humor and daring use of languages that he has not completely mastered.
Giuseppe Fietta, 75, has a long career as a papal diplomat but often likes to stroll the streets of his north Italian home town of Ivrea and play boccie with his friends. He became nuncio to Haiti and the Dominican Republic in 1931, to Argentina from 1936 to 1953, when he returned to Rome as nuncio to Italy.
Paolo Giobbe, 78, has been apostolic internuncio to The Netherlands since 1936, is known for his unspectacular but painstaking diplomacy.