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Pope appoints 20 new cardinals in his eighth consistory

Laura Serrano-Count Vatican City, August 27 (EFE).- Pope Francis today appointed 20 new cardinals, including one Spaniard and four Latin Americans, in his eighth consistory and the first to be held in mid-August, a ceremony held at the Vatican that will be followed by a meeting of all the world’s cardinals next Monday and Tuesday. ONE SPANISH AND FOUR LATIN AMERICA The list of new cardinals includes Spanish Archbishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga; the one from Brasilia, Paulo Cesar Costa; that Manaus, Leonardo Ulrich, would become the first cardinal of the Amazon region; that Asunción, Adalberto Martínez Flores, will become Paraguay’s first cardinal; and Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal. Also Archbishop Ekwulobia (Nigeria), Peter Okpaleke, Archbishop of Goa and Damao (India), Filipe Neri António Sebastião di Rosário Ferrão, Archbishop of Ekwulobia (Nigeria), Anthony Poola, or Bishop of Wa (Ghana), Richard Kuuia Baawobr; and young Archbishop Giorgio Marengo, a 48-year-old Italian who is the administrator of the Catholic Church in Mongolia, where there are more than 1,500 Catholics. “A cardinal loves the Church, always with the same spiritual fire, whether facing the big questions or caring for the little ones; whether to meet the great in this world, or the small, the great before God”, the Pope said in his homily. Let’s look back to Jesus: only He knows the secret of this humble generosity, of this meek power, of this attentive universality down to the details. The secret of God’s fire, which came down from heaven, illuminates from one end to the other. , and it slowly cooks the food of poor families, immigrants, or those without a home,” he added. The new cardinals will pay a courtesy call this Saturday with the faithful who want to come and welcome them to the Vatican. CONCLAVE AIR After this consistory, the total number of cardinals has increased to 227, voters – under 80 years old – from 116 to 132 – from nearly two thirds (83 cardinals) have been appointed by Francis – and non-voters from 91 to 95. Initially the pope was to appoint 21 cardinals, but eventually became 20 cardinals because Lucas Van Looy of Belgium resigned. Of the new cardinals, 16 are electors and will therefore be able to enter the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, and 4 non-voters, who do not have the right to vote. Of them 5 Americans, 5 Asians, 8 Europeans and 2 Africans On Monday and Tuesday Francis will have a meeting with all the cardinals of the world to reflect on the Constitution the new Apostolic task “Praedicate Evangelium”, which reformed the organization of the Curia, the administration of the Catholic Church, and those who would choose the future. Pope will they see those faces? “I don’t think (Francisco) is stepping down, I think a word has spread in the world that he is stepping down. I never believed it, but now I have seen it in person… ‘We had Pope Francis for a long time,’ ” he said. This Saturday the Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal, is in a meeting with the media. However, he acknowledged that the meeting would help those responsible for selecting the next pope get to know each other. “I believe that each consistory helps to get to know each other a little better, it means that those who are eligible to vote can have a slightly better idea of ​​the other cardinals,” said the Colombian archbishop, who is more than 80 years old. years and therefore no longer has the right to participate in the eventual conclave. In the same line, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, England Arthur Roche, pointed out: “Obviously (this conclave is not a start for withdrawal) it’s not true, he has said it. But we live in a world of rumours, make up stories that appeal to people. -people, but not like that.” ACCUSED CARDINAL BECCIU AMONG THEM Among those attending the celebration in the Vatican Basilica was Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was removed from office by the Pope and stripped of his cardinal rights due to his alleged involvement in financial irregularities in the Vatican. The cardinal, who was the successor to the Secretary of State for Public Affairs (2011-2018), through which the Vatican administration is administered, and later prefect of the congregation for the Cause of Saints, has been facing court at the Vatican for months for financial irregularities in the management of the Vatican Secretary of State’s funds. (c) EFE Agency