Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will appoint 21 new cardinals. Reuters writes about an “unexpected move” that is expected to influence the composition of a powerful group traditionally and historically called “princes of the Church.” Cardinals are the most important hierarchs after the Pope and decide on his election.
The ceremony during which the new cardinals will be nominated – the so-called consistory – will take place on December 8, announced the Pope on Sunday noon during a prayer in St. Peter's Square in Vatican.
As Reuters writes, this will be the 10th consistory convened by Francis since his election 11 years ago. “Although popes can appoint cardinals at any time, Francis' decision to make new appointments now is surprising,” the agency commented. It's an “unexpected move,” he emphasizes.
At the end of Sunday's Angelus prayer meeting in the Vatican, the Pope read the names of the new cardinals. There are dignitaries from: Italian, Serbia, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Japan, Philippines, BrazilCôte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Canada, Lithuania.
Among the most interesting cardinal nominations is the one for 44-year-old Mykola Byczok, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishop of the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite. He is the eparch of Ukrainians in Melbourne, Australia.
The Pope also appointed the organizer of papal pilgrimages, Father George Jacob Koovakad from India, working at the Secretariat of State, as a cardinal.
Pope Francis in Papua New Guinea PAP/EPA/ANTONIO DASIPARU
Currently, the Catholic Church has 122 cardinals under 80 years of age, i.e. those who could vote in the future conclave electing the pope. Church law limits the number of such clergy to 120, but recent popes have often exceeded this number – reminds Reuters.
Two of the cardinals who can currently vote in the conclave will reach retirement age by the end of this year, and another 13 will reach retirement age by the end of 2025. In 2026, theoretically, there may be as many as 128 cardinals in the Catholic Church electing the pope.
Cardinals rank second after the Pope in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and are his closest advisors. Due to their historical position and influence, they are still called “princes of the Church”.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/ANTONIO DASIPARU