On 20 October 2010, Pope Benedict XVI announced a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals to be held on 20 November 2010, and made public the names of 24 Prelates he intended to raise to the Cardinalate on that occasion, Archbishop Ranjith being among those chosen for promotion to the Sacred College. Accordingly, Archbishop Ranjith was created a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church at the Consistory of 20 November 2010, and was assigned the title of Cardinal-Priest of "San Lorenzo in Lucina". On 13 February 2011 Cardinal Ranjith took possession of his titular church in Rome.