Scarborough MP at ceremony for Cardinal Collins.
Pickering-Scarborough East MP Corneliu Chisu, right, joins newly elevated Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, in Rome.
Photo/COURTESY
Cardinal Thomas Collins, who wore a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey during his investiture trip to Rome, will bring humbleness and "Canadian values" to his new post, says a local MP who witnessed the weekend ceremonies at Vatican City.
Collins, who remains archbishop of Toronto, was given his red cardinal's hat, ring and cape Saturday, Feb. 18, by Pope Benedict XVI in a solemn and simple ceremony, said Pickering-Scarborough East MP Corneliu Chisu, one of more than 150 Canadians there to support Canada's newest cardinal.
"Maybe one day he will be the pope. You never know," said Chisu, a practicing Roman Catholic who said he spoke to Collins for the first time as new cardinals received well-wishers afterwards.
"He's extremely humble and an extremely good person," said the MP who said he believes Collins will keep values Canadians share - such as respect for human rights, religious freedom and the family - in mind as he participates in the selection of the next pope.
To have three living cardinals from Canada is an honour for Canadians, 43 per cent of which profess the Catholic faith, said Chisu, who also watched the Pope celebrate mass with 22 new cardinals Sunday.