Ruben Salazar Gomez, Bogota Archbishop, One Of Six New Cardinals Chosen By Pope

Vatican Welcomes New Colombian Cardinal
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - NOVEMBER 25: Newly appointed cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogota, attends a mass held by Pope Benedict XVI at the St. Peter's Basilica on November 25, 2012 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff installed six new cardinals during his fifth concistory, who will be responsible for choosing his sucessor. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - NOVEMBER 25: Newly appointed cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogota, attends a mass held by Pope Benedict XVI at the St. Peter's Basilica on November 25, 2012 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff installed six new cardinals during his fifth concistory, who will be responsible for choosing his sucessor. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

VATICAN CITY A Colombian was one of the six new cardinals that Pope Benedict XVI named on Saturday, bringing a more geographically diverse mix into the European-dominated College of Cardinals.

Pope Benedict XVI presided over the ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica to formally elevate the six men, who hail from Colombia, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Philippines and the United States. As Benedict read each name aloud in Latin, cheers and applause erupted from their friends and family members in the pews.

The ceremony was both joyful and emotional: Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, seen by many to be a rising star in the church, visibly choked up as he knelt before Benedict to receive his three-pointed red hat, or biretta, and gold ring, and wiped tears from his eyes as he returned to his place.

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