Vatican City, Jun 29, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Today at noon in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and the 32 metropolitan archbishops who received the pallium yesterday, calling them to continued unity with each other and with the Pope.
The Pope greeted each of the new metropolitan archbishops, many of whose families were present, one by one, telling them, "I remain united to you with affection and prayer; at the same time I ask you to continue to walk together, united by the same feelings of harmony and of love for Christ and His Church."
Addressing Cardinal Sodano, the Holy Father thanked the dean of the College of Cardinals for "the collaboration given over many years to Peter's Successor, I extend my thoughts to all the members of the College of Cardinals, with gratitude for the support and prayer with which they accompany my service as pastor of the universal Church."
Speaking to Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, the new metropolitan archbishop of Krakow, Poland, and personal secretary to Benedict's predicessor, the Pope thanked him "for all you have done for John Paul II, and for me personally."