Pope Benedict just named New York archbishop Timothy Dolan, current president of the U.S. bishops conference, a cardinal. 

UPDATE: Cardinal-Designate Dolan writes:

it’s as if Pope Benedict is putting the red hat on top of the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty, or on home plate at Yankee Stadium; or on the spires of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral or any of our other parish churches; this is the successor of Saint Peter saying to the clergy, sisters, brothers, lay faithful of this archdiocese, and to all of our friends and neighbors of New York: Thank you! Keep up the good work!