The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the recent elevation of Archbishop John P. Foley to Cardinal. Cardinal Foley, Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, will be the celebrant and Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the homilist. Pope Benedict XVI elevated Cardinal Foley in a Consistory at Saint Peter's Basilica on November 24, 2007.

All are welcome to attend the Mass of Thanksgiving. Cardinal Foley will greet those in attendance after Mass.

6:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

For those unable to attend the Mass of Thanksgiving it will be streamed live on the Archdiocesan website www.archphila.org.


Cardinal John P. Foley was born on November 11, 1935, the only child of John Edward and Regina (Vogt) Foley of Sharon Hill, Delaware County. He graduated from Holy Spirit School, Sharon Hill; St. Joseph's Preparatory School and St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, where he was elected president of the student body and obtained a bachelor's degree summa cum laude in history. He entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Philadelphia and received a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

From 1970 to 1984 Cardinal Foley was the Editor of the Archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard & Times. In 1984, he was named by Pope John Paul II as president of the Pontifical Commission (now Pontifical Council) for Social Communications at the Vatican, a position he held until summer 2007. At that time, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Pro Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He is called to direct and guide the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in its service to the Church of Jerusalem. This involves working for the well-being and stability of the Christian community throughout the Holy Land.

Editor's Note: An audio and video mult-box feed will be provided in the parking lot of the Cathedral. Please enter on 17th Street, between Race and Vine Streets. Crews will need a bnc connector and a recording deck or a live truck. Television cameras will not be permitted in the Cathedral. Reporters and still photographers will be permitted in the Cathedral.

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747