The Pope ordains Nigerian Peter Okpaliki as a cardinal (Ricardo de Luca/Anatolia)
Ritual Pope FrancisOn Saturday, twenty cardinals were close to his line and he chose them from all the continents, in an additional step on the road to preparing for his succession.
This eighth synod in the pontificate of Francis, who was elected in 2013, comes amid speculation that the 85-year-old pope will step down and has been forced for months in a wheelchair due to knee pain that keeps the possibility of his withdrawal “open” one day.
At 16:00 (14:00 GMT) Saturday in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Pope ordained twenty new cardinals, including 16 “electors”, that is, under 80 years of age, who will be able to participate in the conclave in the future.
Observers closely follow the appointment of these cardinals entrusted with the assistance of the Pope, considering that they may constitute an indication of the next path of the spiritual leader of about 1.3 billion Catholics.
The Argentine Jesuit, who is very sensitive about the societies of minoritiesfrom the traditional choice of archbishops of large cities, favoring lesser known personalities.
His selection of five Asians, including two Indians, confirms the growing importance of the continent.
The affairs specialist said Vatican Bernard Lecomte says this confirms the “international character of church government, which represents the Church of today with a wide stature for the southern hemisphere,” where 80% of the population lives. Catholic.
At the end of this first synod since November 2020, Pope Francis will have chosen 83 cardinals out of a total of 132 electors, or about two-thirds, the percentage needed to elect a new pope.
With 40% of its voters, Europe remains the most represented continent ahead of South America and Asia (16% each), Africa (13%) and North America (12%).
Among the American personalities is Robert McIlroy, Bishop of San Diego in California, who is considered a progressive for his stances on Catholics gay Especially, the Italian missionary Giorgio Marengo, who works in Mongolia, and his choice was not expected. At the age of 48, Marengo will become the youngest Cardinal in the world.
In addition to these, there is Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, who will become the sixth French in the College of Cardinals. Aveline, 63, who is particularly committed to interfaith dialogue, said, “This confidence of the Pope is a great honor, which compels me more in my mission to serve Christ.”
In addition to these are the Nigerian Peter Okpaliki, the Brazilian Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, and the Archbishop of Dili in East Timor Virgilio de Carmo da Silva.
(AFP)