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Home > Events > Rome

Rome - Consistory Pilgrimage for the Archdiocese of Toronto

Here is the tentative itinerary for the Archdiocese of Toronto's official pilgrimage delegation to Rome for the February 18, 2012 consistory. We will keep this page updated with the latest photos and highlights from our team in Rome (and Toronto) to help you follow along Archbishop Thomas Collins' journey to cardinal. Refresh this page for the latest!

Tuesday, February 14

• Toronto Archdiocesan Pilgrimage opening Mass and reception
  • Photo: Toronto delegation at the the Teutonic College
  • Blog: The Flock Flying South, A Pilgrimage to Rome!
  • Videos: The Making of a Cardinal - Part 1 / Part 2 - Salt + Light TV

Wednesday, February 15

• Weekly Papal Audience and visit to tourist attractions including Michelangelo's Moses Statue, the Colosseum and the Forum
• Photos:
  1. Toronto pilgrims with Cardinal-designate Collins just before the Papal Audience
  2. Pope Benedict and cardinal-designates at this week's Papal Audience
     
• Blog: The Pope, Grade 3's & Panic - Rome in a Day!

• Skype video chat with Archbishop Collins in Rome -- with students from Holy Cross School in Malton and Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School in Guelph
  • Photos:
    1. From the classroom in Malton
    2. From a rooftop overlooking St. Peter's Square in Rome
• Articles:
  1. Students Question What it Means to Become a Cardinal During Live Video Call
     
  2. Grade 3 class star-struck after call with future cardinal
  3. Future cardinal chats with grade 3 class over Skype
  4. Cardinal-designate Collins speaks to Guelph students from Rome
• Video: The Making of a Cardinal - Part 3 - Salt + Light TV
• Blog: The Pope, Grade 3's & Panic - Rome in a Day!

Thursday, February 16

• Assemble at the Vatican Museums for a guided visit to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and visit two of the Eternal City's great basilicas: San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore
  • Photos:
    1. Cardinal-designate Collins being interviewed by Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York City for the latter's radio program at the Vatican Radio studios
    2. Cardinal-designate Collins being interviewed by RAI Vaticano and Vatican Radio's Emer McCarthy
    3. A little divine intervention for the Maple Leafs courtesy of the Vatican and a Toronto Cardinal
    4. Cardinal-designate Collins and Neil MacCarthy outside of the Vatican Radio Studios Skyping with Toronto television station CP24
  • Articles:
    1. Toronto bishop dons Toronto Maple Leafs sweater at Vatican
    2. Maple Leafs get help from above
    3. Collins one of us, but many communities stake claim to him
    4. Collins' ascension to College of Cardinals surprises no one
    5. Excited to continue telling story of Guelph lad who's done so well
  • Video: The Making of a Cardinal - Part 4 - Salt + Light TV

Friday, February 17

• Holy Hour and confession in the evening followed by Mass celebrated by Cardinal-designate Collins
• May visit: historical churches of Rome including Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Costanza, Sant' Agnese, San Clemente, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva; Benedictine Monastery of Subiaco in the hills east of Rome; or Catacombs of San Callisto.
• In preparation for the consistory, the Holy Father has called the members of the College of Cardinals and the new cardinals-designate to participate in a day of reflection and prayer in the Vatican's New Synod Hall. The day will begin with Lauds at 10:00 a.m. and conclude with Vespers at 5:00 p.m.
  The main theme of the meeting - "the announcement of the Gospel today, between 'missio ad gentes' and new evangelisation" - will be introduced by one of the cardinals-designate: Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York.
  The day will also include a report on the forthcoming Year of Faith, to be delivered by Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.
  (Source: Vatican Information Service)
  • Photos: Mass and dinner for pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Toronto on the eve of the consistory
  • Articles:
    1. Thomas Collins: 'good shepherd, wise teacher and prudent steward'
    2. Canada's newest cardinal is 'a shepherd, not an emperor'
    3. Canada's new cardinal looks to the past for future guidance
    4. Guelph's Collins cracking jokes on eve of elevation to Pope's inner circle
    5. Father Rayomond J. de Souza: Thomas Collins rise to cardinal part of the great public theatre of Catholicism
  • Videos:
1. Canada's cardinal designate looks to past for guidance - CTV News
2. The Making of a Cardinal - Part 5 - Salt + Light TV
• Blog: Your Grace one last time...

Saturday, February 18

• Morning: The ordinary public consistory at St. Peter's Basilica (view another virtual tour here) and witness the creation of new cardinals - read more about the ceremony.
  
• Immediately after the new cardinals are created, the Holy Father will celebrate an ordinary public consistory for the canonisation of seven Blesseds. Cardinal Collins and all the "princes of the church" will vote on seven new saints - see complete list. Normally, the public consistory for new saints is attended only by cardinals living in Rome, but the creation of new cardinals is an opportunity for all of them to exercise their role as advisers to the pope.
  Later that afternoon, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., various rooms of the Apostolic Palace will be open to the public for courtesy visits to the new cardinals. Cardinal Collins will be in Paul VI Hall. See complete list of locations for all new cardinals.
  • Photos:
    1. Cardinal Collins greets pilgrims at the Paul VI Audience Hall
       
    2. Reception for Cardinal Collins at the Pontifical Canadian College
    3. The new cardinal's ring up-close
    4. From the consistory at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome:
       part one / part two
  • Articles:
    1. Cardinal Collins: Toronto archbishop joins elite club that elects popes
    2. It's official Collins of Guelph is Canada's newest cardinal
    3. Cardinal Collins: former Archbishop of Edmonton joines elite club that elects Pope's successor
    4. New Toronto cardinal Thomas Collins dismisses Vatican controversy, Pope plot
    5. Newest Canadian cardinal Thomas Collins joins elite group within Catholic Church
    6. Archbishop Collins dons the red hat
    7. Harper congratulates new Canadian Cardinal
    8. Consistory: New cardinals and their churches
  • Videos:
    1. Toronto Archbishop Collins appointed Cardinal - CityNews
    2. Canadian 'astonishes' to be elevated to cardinal - CTV New
  • Blog: Sea of Red...
    

Sunday, February 19

• Concelebrated Mass with the pope and new cardinals, including Cardinal Collins, at St. Peter's Basilica at 9:30 a.m. followed by Urbi et Orbi and the Angelus Prayer
  • Photos:
    • Photos from the Eucharistic Celebration with the new Cardinals at St. Peter's Basilica
      Part 1 / Part 2
    • Toronto pilgrims played a central role during the Eucharistic Concelebration
  • Articles:
    1. Newly appointed Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins joins Pope Benedict in morning mass
    2. From Vatican to Toronto, Catholic clergy plan 'rekindling of faith'
    3. Canadian joins new cardinals in Vatican elevation
    4. Newly appointed Canadian cardinal among those to choose next pope
    5. Guelph native Collins is officially Canada's newest cardinal
    6. Church of Our Lady parishoners celebrate "hometowner"
    7. Pope tells new cardinals to bear witness to the joy of Christ's love
• Blog: In Rome, It's Christmas in February!

Monday, February 20

• Morning: Mass at a Special Altar within the Vatican with Cardinal Collins as the principal celebrant, followed by Papal Audience greeting the new cardinals and their international visitors
• Afternoon: Guided walk through the neighborhoods of Rome where so many saints including St. Catherine of Siena, St. Brigid, St. Philip Neri, and St. Ignatius Loyola, among others, worked and lived - see virtual panoramic tours of various attractions in Rome, Italy
• Evening: reception and farewell dinner for the Archdiocesan Consistory Pilgrimage group
  • Photos:
    • Final Mass with the Toronto delegation at the altar in front of the tomb of St. Peter
  • Articles:
    1. Collins' staff overwhelmed by roles in special Mass
    2. Collins holds first mass as cardinal in Vatican Crypt
    3. Pope Benedict holds audience for new Cardinals including Toronto's Thomas Collins
    4. In conversation: Thomas Collins - The Archbishop of Toronto on becoming a Cardinal and why the Bible is better on an iPad
    5. Pope urges support for new Cardinals
    6. Beauty of St. Peter's Basilica "staggers" MP
    7. The Archbishop of Toronto on becoming a Cardinal and why the Bible is better on an iPad
  • Videos:
    1. Cardinal Collins vows to keep Vatican connected - CTV News
    2. New Toronto Cardinal Pushes Social Media - Canada AM
    3. The Making of a Cardinal - Part 6 - Salt + Light TV
  • Blog: Family Day with Il Papa in Rome...

Tuesday, February 21

• St. Paul Outside the Walls for closing Mass
  • Article: Guelph-born cardinal expects to see 'a lot of airports' in new role

 

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