Consistory

 There was the Consistory this morning in which 22 were raised to the rank of cardinals from around the world, including two from the U.S. and one from Canada.
I picked up tickets for the event earlier in the week, and was warned to get there early, because there were more tickets than seats available.  This meant that even the ticket would not even promise me entrance to St. Peter's.  The ceremony started at 10:30.

A friend from Toronto was here for the occasion, and I accompanied her as an honorary Canadian for the day, supporting her archbishop, Thomas Collins, as he was elevated.   I met her this morning at 7:30, and we went straight to St. Peter's to get in line.  Many were already there.  We met up with the Canadian delegation, and found ourselves pushed, shoved, squished like so many sardines, but eventually (after about an hour and a half) we got inside the papal basilica.  We were near the back, but we were in.  We could see nothing, but we weren't stuck out on the square as many others were, who watched the ceremony on the jumbotrons.  The pope passed pretty nearby as he processed in, but we could only catch a glimpse from our spots.  But, we were there.

Then we went to the Canadian college for a reception with the new cardinal, a senior cardinal, several bishops, priests, some politicians, and lots of Canadians.
After a few hours, the cardinals went back to the Vatican for the Vatican reception with the rest of the new cardinals.  We were tired, though, and went back to rest.
A fuller report can be found here.