 There had been speculation that he had been one of the cardinals appointed "in pectore" on 28 March 1960, but he would have gotten seniority dating back to that 1960 consistory if the "in pectore" appointment was true.Ferretto was named Cardinal Bishop of Sabina e Poggio Mirteto on 26 March 1961.Pope John had recently changed the way cardinals were raised to the rank of cardinal bishop.