Pope
Francis has appointed 20 new cardinals, 15 of whom will be eligible to elect
the next pope. Once again his choices lent greater geographic representation to
the Europe-centric College of Cardinals.
Deutsche Welle, 14 Feb 2015
Pope Francis
appointed 20 Roman Catholic bishops and archbishops to the rank of cardinal at
a ceremony in the Vatican on Saturday.
Cardinals
serve as the pope's closest advisors in Rome and around the world. Fifteen of
the new cardinals are under the age of 80 and known as "cardinal
electors." That designation allows them to participate in a secret
conclave held to elect a successor to the current pope after his death or
resignation.
The 15 new
cardinal electors come from 14 countries. The group includes Nguyen Van Nhon,
the archbishop of Hanoi, Yangon archbishop Charles Maung Bo, Soane Patita Paini
Mafi of Tonga and two Italians.
The five
other cardinals are above the age of 80 and therefore already ineligible to
take part in the conclave that will elect the next pope.
Francis:
'not an honorary title'
Pope
Francis stressed that the job of cardinal was "not an honorary title"
and that it involved working at the center of the church in a manner that
"must be exercised in charity, and is ordered towards charity."
Once again Francis gave greater geographic representation to the College of Cardinals |
Addressing
the new cardinals, he said: "Those called to the service of governance in
the Church need to have a strong sense of justice, so that any form of
injustice becomes unacceptable, even those which might bring gain to himself or
to the Church."
German
participation
Among those
taking part in the ceremony at the Vatican's St Peter's Basilica was retired
German pope Benedict XVI.
The
ceremony took place after a consistory, which is a formal meeting of the
College of Cardinals, in the Vatican on Thursday and Friday. This is Francis'
second consistory creating new cardinals. His choices again drew on individuals
in parts of the world previously having little representation in the church
body.
Additionally,
Pope Francis announced on Saturday that he will elevate four women to sainthood
in May. They are all nuns who lived in the 19th century and founded Catholic
orders - one French, one Italian and two Palestinians.
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