Before leading the Angelus prayer, yesterday morning, Benedict XVI recalled that "next Tuesday, in Annapolis, USA, Israelis and Palestinians, with the help of the international community, intend to resume negotiations to find a fair and final solution to the conflict that for sixty years has stained with blood the Holy Land and has caused so many tears and sufferings in both peoples". Hence the invitation: "I ask you to join the Day of Prayer that has been arranged for today by the Bishops Conference of the United States, to beg from God’s Spirit peace for that beloved region and the gifts of wisdom and courage for all the participants in that important meetings". After greeting all the pilgrims, especially those coming from different parts of the world on the occasion of the Consistory and Holy Mass on the day of Christ King of the Universe, in the presence of the newly-appointed cardinals, the Pope entrusted to the Virgin "the new members of the Cardinals’ College", which include six Italians, "so that She may obtain for each one of them as well as for all the ministers of the Church to always imitate Christ in generously serving God and His people, in order to partake of His glorious royalty".
