The Associated Press
Staff
FILE – This Sunday, June 2, 2019, an archive photo shows Washington DC Archbishop Wilton Gregory posed for a portrait after mass at St Augustine Church in Washington (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik, file)
VATICAN CITY –
Pope Francis appointed 13 new cardinals on Sunday, including Washington DC Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who would become the first black US prelate to win the coveted red hat
In a surprise announcement from his studio window to worshipers standing below in St Peter’s Square, Francis said the clergymen would be elevated to cardinal status in a ceremony on November 28
Other new cardinals include an Italian who is the longtime papal preacher in the Vatican, Rev Raniero Cantalamessa, a Franciscan friar; Kigali, Rwanda, Archbishop Antoine Kambanda; Capiz, Philippines, Archbishop Jose Feurte Advincula, and Santiago, Chile, Archbishop Celestino Aos Braco
Another Franciscan who has been tapped is Brother Mauro Gambetti, responsible for the Sacred Convent in Assisi The Pope, upon his election in 2013, chose St Francis of Assisi as his namesake saint Earlier this month the pontiff traveled to this hill town in Umbria to sign an encyclical, or important church teaching document, about fellowship
In reflection of the Pope’s emphasis on helping those in need, Francis also appointed the former director of Rome’s Catholic charity, Caritas, the Rev. Enrico Feroci, being a cardinal
Wilton, 73, was chosen by Francis to lead the prestigious US capital diocese last year The prelate has his pulse on factions in the US Catholic Church, which has both strong conservative and liberal veins since serving three times as head of the US Conference of Bishops
Nine of the new cardinals are under 80 and therefore eligible to elect the next pontiff in a secret conclave Some cardinals run powerful Vatican offices, and pontiffs frequently turn to cardinals for advice
No details were immediately given by the Vatican about the concistory, as the formal training ceremony for cardinals of clergymen is known, especially in view of travel restrictions involving many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
As he did in other groups of cardinals that he tapped into his papacy, Francis in this selection reflected the global nature of the Catholic Church and its flock of 12 billion Catholics
Other named cardinals include a Maltese prelate, Monsignor Mario Grech; Monsignor Marcello Semeraro, an Italian serving as prefect of the Vatican office who directs the process of making saints; Bishop Cornelius Sim, originally from Brunei and Apostolic Vicar of Brunei; the Italian archbishop of Siena and the neighboring towns of Tuscany, Augusto Lojudice; the retired bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, Monsignor Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel; and a former Italian Vatican diplomat Archbishop Silvano Tomasi
Clergymen over 80 who are appointed cardinals are chosen to honor their lives in church service Those in this group too old to vote in a conclave are Cantalamessa, Tomasi, Feroci and Arizmendi Esquivel
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News from the world – CA – The Pope appoints 13 new cardinals, including the first Black US prelate
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com