At a ceremony in St.Peter's in the Vatican City, Jan 19, Pope John presented four new Cardinals with their Beretta hats and rings of office. Present were the Cardinals of the Holy See and members of the diplomatic corps to the Vatican. The new Cardinals are Joseph Ritter of St. Louis, U.S.A.: Humberto Quintero of Caracas, Venezuela, Luis Concho Cordoba of Bogota, Colombia, and Giuseppe Ferretto of the Vatican Curia.

Before the ceremony the new Cardinals tried on their Beretta hats and rings in the Hall of the Secretary of State. At the Basilica a huge crowd saw the Pope enter from the Chapel of St. Petronilla. Before the altar of the Confession he mounted a throne. One by one the new Cardinals entered and embraced him. They then embraced the members of the College of Cardinals.

After this the Pope presented them with their hats and rings. The Cardinals then returned to the Chapel and took up the traditional prone position before the altar. For the final act of the ceremony they returned and kissed the Pope's slipper. Before he left Pope John blessed all those present.