VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict has consecrated 34 new archbishops, including leaders of the Roman Catholic archdioceses of New York, St. Louis, Detroit and New Orleans.

At a Vatican Mass on Monday, Benedict said archbishops must guide and protect the faithful as shepherds care for their flocks. He said the archbishops should be like Christ, "who as a good shepherd carried on his back humanity -- the lost sheep -- to bring them home."

Archbishops Timothy Dolan of New York, Robert Carlson of St. Louis, Allen Vigneron of Detroit and Gregory Aymond of New Orleans were among those receiving the pallium, a band of lamb's wool decorated with black crosses that signifies pastoral authority. Britain's new Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, says the crosses represent willingness to share in Christ's suffering.

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