According to the existing normative, in No. 33 of the apostolic constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis,” cardinals who have celebrated their 80th birthday may not take part in a conclave to elect a new pope.
As of Tuesday, non-elector cardinals will number 65. According to the apostolic constitution, “the maximum number of cardinal electors should not exceed 120,” though John Paul II exceeded that limit in the October 2003 consistory.
Alexandre do Nascimento, born March 1, 1925, was made a cardinal in 1983. He headed the Archdiocese of Luanda from 1986-2001.
On March 18, Cardinal Antonio José González Zumárraga, archbishop of Quito, Ecuador, will also celebrate his 80th birthday.
Other cardinals who will be 80 this year are Marco Ce, retired patriarch of Venice, Italy; Francisco Álvarez Martínez, retired archbishop of Toledo, Spain; Armand Gaétan Razafindratandra, archbishop of Antananarivo, Madagascar; and José Freire Falcão, retired archbishop of Brasilia, Brazil.
