The Archbishop of Dublin Dr Connell has been elevated to cardinal in Rome today before thousands of onlookers at a ceremony in St Peter's Square.
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Dr Desmond Connell
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The consistory was the eighth since the Pope was elected in 1978, was the first since 1998 and the biggest in thechurch's history.
Dr Connell's entourage numbered more than 250 people, including church colleagues and family. The Taoiseach Mr Ahern and the Minister of State for the Environment Mr Robert Molloy were also among the guests.
At the ceremony the Pope created 44 cardinals, bringing to 185 the number of cardinals and to 135 the number of cardinal-electors.
The cardinal-electors are all aged under 80 and are eligible to take part in the election of the next pope.
The ceremony will began with a liturgical greeting after which the Pope read "the formula of creation" and solemnly proclaimed the names of the 44 new cardinals.
The cardinals will not receive their rings from the Pope until a concelebrated Mass in St Peter's Basilica at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.
Of the total number of cardinals after today's ceremony Italy has 41 (24 electors); the US have 13 (11 electors); Germany nine (five electors); Brazil eight (seven electors) and Spain seven (four electors).
Among the smaller countries Britain and Ireland have two cardinals each, with Britain having two electors and Ireland one. The former primate Cardinal Cahal Daly is 83 and so is ineligible to vote.
In all 62 countries are represented among the total of 185 cardinals.