Lots of reporting on this morning’s ceremony, but a few highlights:
First…Zadok was there!
Many interesting detailed and a balanced look at the liturgy:

Needless to say, it was a wonderful event and much of the ‘blog commentary is focusing on the Holy Father’s vesture and the wonderful Papal throne which was dusted off for the occasion. (Cf Matt 13:52) They certainly added to the occasion and show that Mons Marini seems to be making his mark in terms of the ‘style’ in which the liturgy is celebrated. The fact that the liturgy was held inside St Peter’s shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone. The idea of holding an outdoor ceremony at the end of a Roman November, particularly one at which so many elderly princes of the Church were to be present was always optimistic, and it’s been common knowledge in the city for quite a while that the whole thing would be moved indoors. It is unfortunate that this meant that many of the faithful who had travelled long distances to see their bishops being elevated to the Sacred Purple had to watch on TV screens in the Piazza , but there was no other realistic alternative. Thankfully, I did get inside the basilica and it certainly is wonderful when St Peter’s is used for these solemn liturgies. There’s something very special about the enthusiastic chanting of the responses and hymns in Latin by the congregation in such a manner that it threatens to raise the roof of this extraordinary building.

Much more…do check it out. Zadok also points to this interesting and helpful website …All Cardinals, All The Time.

John Allen has a transcript of Cardinals Foley and DiNardo’s press conference:

Cardinal DiNardo, as somebody who came into Texas from the outside, can you talk a little bit about what you’ve learned about Catholicism in Texas and the southwest, and what this day means for Catholics there?
Houston had half the number of Catholics twenty years ago that it has right now. There has been an incredible growth of various nations and peoples, plus people from other parts of the United States who have come in to the southwest, to the south, and specifically to the area around Galveston-Houston-Austin. They bring with them experiences of the Catholic faith, of their respective nations, which has been an enrichment to us. That’s particularly [the case] when you think of those from various parts of South America, and from the Pacific … Vietnamese, Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans. I see that as a great enrichment. What it has allowed us to do, but it’s also a challenge, is to see that the unity of faith can be maintained with a wide variety of cultures around. However, it requires purposive work to do that. The challenge I see in Houston is to celebrate the richness we have, with this great diversity and expressions of Catholicism. That’s also why I’m delighted that there’s a red hat. The unity of faith with the Holy Father is also extremely crucial if we’re going to keep all this working together.
I say this with great pride, that Houston to my mind in the Catholic church there strikes me as ‘happy chaos.’ It’s not the chaos of no one knows what’s going on, but the chaos of great enrichment. Coming from outside, I’ve been delighted and very impressed, particularly with the young people of the archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Let’s not forget, may I also add, that there’s a rich tradition already in Houston of African-American Catholic culture, from Louisiana. That should be noted.
Cardinal Foley, you’ve been known as the voice of the Vatican through your Christmas and Easter commentaries during the televised Masses. Is there any way, with your new duties as a cardinal and with the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, that you’ll be able to continue that?
Foley:The Cardinal Secretary of State told me I could continue that, so God willing, at Christmas you’ll hear the ghost of Christmas past. By the way, not only that, but I had been previously invited to go to Houston for the dedication of their new co-cathedral and do television commentary for that. I said yes, and I’m going to keep that promise … whether he [DiNardo] wants me or not!

The Houston Chronicle Blogger

A very informative interview with Cardinal DiNardo at Zenit.

Much press attention to Cardinal Patriarch Emmanuelle II Delly of the Chaldean Church. In Cardinal red, but in the Chaldean style.

Popes rarely speak out loud their reasons for making a particular prelate a cardinal, but Pope Benedict XVI broke that informal taboo today with regard to Patriarch Emmanuel II Delly of the Chaldean church in Iraq.
“How can we not look with apprehension and affection, in this moment of joy, to the dear Christian community in Iraq?” the pope said during his homily at this morning’s consistory ceremony.
“These brothers and sisters of ours in the faith are experiencing in their own flesh the dramatic consequences of a long-lasting conflict, and are living today in an extremely fragile and delicate political situation,” the pope said.
“By calling the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church to enter into the College of Cardinals, I wanted to express in a concrete way my spiritual closeness and my affection for this population. We wish together, dear and venerable brothers, to reaffirm the solidarity of the entire church with the Christians of that beloved country. We invite and invoke the merciful God, for all the peoples involved, that the longed-for reconciliation and peace may come.”
The pope’s references to Iraq brought three rounds of applause from those gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Many, many photos here.
Finally, an unofficial translation of the Pope’s homily from Teresa Benedetta:

Just now, we listened to the Word of God which helps us to better understand ther solemn time in which we live. In the gospel passage, Jesus has just reminded his disciples for the third time of the destiny that awaits him in Jerusalem, but the ambition of the disciples takes precedence over the fear that had assailed them briefly.
After the confession of Peter in Caesarea and the discussion along the way over which of them was the greatest, ambition impelled the sons of Zebedee to lay claim for themselves to the best places in the messianic Kingdom to the end of times.
In the race for privilege, both knew well what they wanted, just like the other ten, notwithstanding their ‘virtuous’ indignation. In fact, they did not know what they were asking for. It was Jesus who made them understand, speaking in terms much different from the ‘ministry’ that awaited them. He corrected their grossly mistaken idea of merit according to which tey thought one could acquire rights with respect to God.

The evangelist Mark reminds us, dear and venerated brothers, that every true disciple of Christ can aspire to one thing only: to share his passion without expecting any reward. The Christian is called to assume the condition of ‘servant’ following the footsteps of Christ, thus living his life for others freely and in disinterested manner.
It is not the search for power and success, but the humble gift of oneself for the good of the Church, that should characterize every act and word of ours. True Christian greatness, in fact, is not in domination but in service.
Jesus repeats to each of us today that he “did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10,45). That is the ideal that should orient your service.
Dear brothers, as you enter into the College of Cardinals, the Lord asks of you and entrusts to you a service of love: love for God, love for his Church, love for our brothers, with maximum and unconditional dedication, ‘usque ad sanguinis effusionem’ – up to shedding your blood – as the ritual says, during the imposition of the biretta , and as symbolized by the red of the garments you wear.

Be apostles of God who is Love, and witnesses of evangelical hope – this is what the Christian people expect of you. Today’s ceremony underlines the great responsibility that weighs on each of you, venerated and dear brothers, confirmed in the words of the Apostle Peter that we just heard: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Pt 3,15).
Such responsibility does not exempt us from risks but, as St. Peter also reminds us: “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.” (1 Pt 3,17).
Christ asks you to confess before men his truth, to embrace and share his cause, and to fulfill all of this “with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear” (1 Pt 3,15-16), that is, with that interior humility which is the fruit of cooperating with the grace of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, tomorrow, in this same Basilica, I will have the joy of celebrating the Eucharist, on the Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe, together with the new cardinals, to whom I shall give their rings.
It will be an even more important and timely occasion to reaffirm our unity in Christ and to renew our common will to serve him with total generosity. Accompany them with prayer so that they may respond with full and constant dedication to the gift they have received.
Let us turn now with confidence to Mary, Queen of the Apostles. May her spiritual presence today in this singular Cenacle be a guarantee -for the new cardinals and all of us – of the constant effusion of the Holy Spirit who guides the Church in her journey through history. Amen.