21 new cardinals chosen by Pope Francis
By Nidz Godino
“He is looking for cardinals who correspond to the times…these are people who have all taken step away from Church of the past, who positively ensure break,” an informed observer of the Holy See who asked to remain nameless told media said Pope Francis will on Saturday elevate 21 clergymen from all corners of the world to the rank of cardinal most of whom may one day cast ballots to elect his successor.
Choice of the new “Princes of the Church”, who include diplomats, close advisers and administrators, is closely watched as indication of future direction of Roman Catholic Church.
One of them could also one day become successor to 86-year-old Francis, who has left the door open to resigning although he says he is not there yet.
Saturday’s ceremony, known as consistory, is ninth since Francis was elected pope by his peers in 2013.
He has since sought to create more inclusive, universal Church, looking past Europe to clergy in Africa, Asia and Latin America to fill Church’s highest ranks.
Beginning at 10:00 in the morning (0800 GMT) in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, new cardinals will kneel before the pope to receive two symbols of their high office: , scarlet four-cornered cap known as biretta, and cardinal’s ring.
Eighteen of 21 new cardinals are under age of 80 and thus currently eligible to vote as “cardinal electors” in next conclave, when Francis’ successor will be decided.
They are among 99 cardinal-electors created by Argentine pontiff, representing about three-quarters of total.
That has given rise to speculation that future spiritual leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics will be cast in same mould as Francis, preaching more tolerant Church with greater focus on poor and marginalized.
With his latest roster of cardinals, Francis has again looked to the world’s “peripheries” where Catholicism is growing while also breaking with practice of promoting archbishops of large, powerful dioceses.
“He likes bishops who take action.”
There are three new cardinals from South America, including two Argentinians, and three from Africa, with promotion of archbishops of Juba in South Sudan, South Africa’s Cape Town and Tabora in Tanzania.
Asia is represented by Bishop of Penang in Malaysia and Bishop of Hong Kong, Stephen Chow, who is seen as playing key role in seeking to improve tense relations between Vatican and Beijing.
“Traditionally, Church was focused on Europe or United States, but now we need to hear from Africa and Asia,” Chow told reporters.
Some cardinals-to-be, like Chow, have experience in sensitive zones of the world where Holy See hopes to play important diplomatic role.
List includes Holy Land’s top Catholic authority, Italian Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, first serving Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to be made cardinal.
“Jerusalem is centre of the world, but it is also periphery…we know Pope Francis pays attention to periphery, Jerusalem is small laboratory, interreligious and intercultural, and that’s challenge whole world is facing at this point,” Pizzaballa told media.
Also to be promoted is apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, to the United States, France’s Christophe Pierre, whose decades-long diplomatic career includes posts in countries including Haiti, Uganda and Mexico.
Top administrators in Curia, government of Holy See, considered close to Francis are also being recognized.
There is Italy’s Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of Dicastery for Eastern Churches; Argentina’s Victor Manuel Fernandez, whom pope recently named head of powerful Dicastery for Doctrine of Faith; and Chicago-born Robert Prevost, former missionary in Peru who leads Dicastery for Bishops.
Last consistory was held in August 2022.
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