Cardinals' Oath on Receiving Biretta

Zenit
October 21, 2003

Code: ZE03102101

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 21, 2003 (HYPERLINK "http://www.zenit.org/"Zenit.org).- Below is a translation of the oath of fidelity and obedience to the Pope and his Successors, pronounced today by the 30 new cardinals to whom John Paul II handed the biretta, or cardinal's hat.

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I [name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church; to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law.

So help me Almighty God.

[Translation of the Latin original by ZENIT]