Archbishop Gracias to be anointed Cardinal on Saturday

Newly appointed Mumbai Archbishop Oswald Gracias will be among the twenty–three new Cardinals of the Catholic Church, who would be concentrated into the elite group by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday, tomorrow.

The elevated cardinals include two Asians, two Africans, four Latin Americans, two North Americans and 13 Europeans constituting a group of 24.

The Saturday’s function would take the total number of Cardinals of the Church to 201. Of them only 120 are less than 80 years old and can take part in a future papal election.

"At the grand ceremony on Saturday, the 23 new Cardinals will be dressed in crimson outfits. The ceremonies and celebrations that began on Thursday would peak with the Sunday mass," noted a Christian source.

Apart from the Saturday function, the Cardinals on Sunday would be conferred the traditional ring and bright red hat symbolizing the blood of martyrs.