The cackling Cardinal: New York's Dolan in seventh heaven as he introduces his mother, 84, to the Pope

By Lee Moran
Updated: 09:29 EST, 21 February 2012

It's not often that introducing your parent to your boss elicits such pure pleasure.

But New York's newest Cardinal was clearly pleased as punch to orchestrate the audience between his 84-year-old mother Shirley and Pope Benedict XVI yesterday.

Beaming from ear to ear, emitting cackles of laughter, Timothy Dolan was visibly ecstatic as he brought a whirlwind nine-day trip to an end inside the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

Pleased as punch: Newly-elected Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan (centre) roars with laughter after introducing his mother Shirley (left to the Pope Benedict XVI

Bubbly: Cardinal Timothy Dolan's effervescent personality shone through during the day

Wise-cracks: Pope Benedict XVI (left) is said to have told Shirley Dolan (centre) that she was too young to have a son (Timothy Dolan, right) as a Cardinal

And he has since revealed how the pontiff sweet-talked his mother by telling her she was 'too young to be the mother of a cardinal'.

Dolan, 62, said he told the Pope: 'Holy Father, here is my mom'. He then pointed out that he was one of the few princes of the church to be young enough to still have his mother alive.

The Pope, who turns 85 in April, retorted with the wise-crack, leading to Mrs Dolan to shoot back: 'Holy Father, was that an infallible statement?'

Dolan, who was made a Cardinal on Saturday, was allowed to bring two people along for the special papal audience.

Showing off: Cardinal Timothy Dolan (centre) waved as he hugged his mother Shirley (right) after the audience with the Pope

Happy: Timothy Dolan with mother Shirley (left) and fellow new Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien (right)

Waiting in line: Cardinal Dolan (centre) takes it in his stride as he waits to meet the Pope, but his mother Shirley (left) looks slightly anxious

He also chose the 80-year-old mother 'Vinnie' of Monsignor Gregory Mustaciuolo, who once served as personal secretary to Dolan's New York predecessor John Cardinal O’Connor. Yesterday's audience followed the Pope's presentation of the red hat to 22 Cardinal-Designates - among them being Timothy Dolan.

The 22 new cardinals bring the total number eligible to vote in the next papal election to 125 - those being under the age of 80 -  who will eventually elect the pope's successor.

Honoured: New cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York, stepped up before Pope Benedict XVI Saturday to receive his biretta cap in Saint Peter's Basilica

Elite club: The newly-elected Cardinal was one of 22 new Catholic churchmen brought into the elite club of cardinals who will eventually elect the pope's successor

Benedict presided over the ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica to formally create the cardinals, who among the New York archbishop include archbishops from Prague, Hong Kong and Toronto as well as the heads of several Vatican offices.

Preparations for the ceremony have been clouded by embarrassing leaks of internal documents alleging financial mismanagement in Vatican affairs, and reports in the Italian media of political jockeying among church officials who, sensing an increasingly weak pontiff, are already preparing for a conclave. None of that was on display Saturday, however.

Oath: Reciting the cardinals' traditional oath of loyalty, each man pledged to remain faithful to the church and to not disclose trusted information that could bring damage or dishonor to the church

Ceremony: The ceremony was described as greatly simplified in comparison to others as speculation grows the pope is slowing down

Acceptance: Each of the new cardinals made the pledge, earning their title, ring and three-pointed red hat, or biretta, from the pope

Celebration: The ceremony brought the number of cardinals under age 80 who are thus eligible to vote in a papal election to 125

That said, each of the new cardinals did make a solemn pledge to keep church secrets upon accepting their new title, ring and three-pointed red hat, or biretta, from the pope.

Reciting the cardinals' traditional oath of loyalty, each one pledged to remain faithful to the church and to 'not to make known to anyone matters entrusted to me in confidence, the disclosure of which could bring damage or dishonour to Holy Church.'

Benedict was wheeled into St. Peter's Basilica aboard the moving platform he has been using for several months to spare him the long walk down the centre aisle.

Benedict, who turns 85 in April, spoke in a strong voice as he told the cardinals they will be called upon to advise him on the problems facing the church.

Decorated: Archbishop of New York, Timothy Michael Dolan, left, is congratulated by Vatican former Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, second from right, after being elevated to cardinal

Red: In remarks at the start of the service, Benedict recalled that the red color of the three-pointed hat, or biretta, and the scarlet cassock that cardinals wear symbolizes the blood that cardinals must be willing to shed to remain faithful to the church

In remarks at the start of the service, Benedict recalled that the red color of the three-pointed hat, or biretta, and the scarlet cassock that cardinals wear symbolizes the blood that cardinals must be willing to shed to remain faithful to the church.

'The new cardinals are entrusted with the service of love: love for God, love for his church, an absolute and unconditional love for his brothers and sisters even unto shedding their blood, if necessary,' Benedict said.

In example of Benedict appearing to slow down, his upcoming trip to Mexico and Cuba is very light on public appearances, with no political speeches or meetings with civil society planned as has been the norm to date.

Collection: Among the 22 new cardinals are archbishops of New York, Prague, Hong Kong and Toronto as well as the heads of several Vatican offices.

Even Saturday's consistory was greatly trimmed back to a slimmer version of the service used in 1969: only one of the cardinals actually read his oath of loyalty aloud, while the others read it silently to themselves simultaneously. A reading was cut out, as was a responsorial psalm.

At the end of his remarks, Benedict said: 'And pray for me, that I may continually offer to the people of God the witness of sound doctrine and guide the holy church with a firm and humble hand.'

Of the 22 new cardinals, seven are Italian, adding to the eight voting-age Italian cardinals named at the last consistory in November 2010. As of Saturday, Italy will have 30 cardinals out of the 125 under age 80.

Background: The consistory class of 2012 is heavily European, reinforcing Europe's dominance of the College of Cardinals, even though two-thirds of the world's Catholics are in the southern hemisphere

Out into the world: All but three of the new under-80 cardinals come from the West, along with a Brazilian, a Chinese and an Indian (shown), George Alencherry

That boosts Italy's chances of taking back the papacy for one of its own following decades under a Polish and a German pope, or at least playing the kingmaker role if an Italian papabile, or papal candidate, doesn't emerge.

Only the United States comes close, with 12 cardinals under 80, including Dolan and Cardinal-designate Edwin O'Brien, the former archbishop of Baltimore who is now grand master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, which raises money for the church in the Holy Land.

The consistory class of 2012 is heavily European, reinforcing Europe's dominance of the College of Cardinals, even though two-thirds of the world's Catholics are in the southern hemisphere.

All but three of the new under-80 cardinals come from the West, along with a Brazilian, an Indian and a Chinese.

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