He was elected Wednesday, during the bishops’ three-day autumn session. The session is focusing particularly on youth pastoral care.
The 53-year-old prelate — he is the youngest cardinal in the Church — will head the episcopate for the next five years, as will the new vice president, Bishop Lajos Papai of Gyor, and the elected member of the Permanent Council, Bishop Nandor Bosak of Debrecen-Nyiregyhaza.
Cardinal Erdo is author of 20 volumes on canon law. He was elevated to cardinal in October 2003.
About 63% of Hungary’s 10 million inhabitants are baptized Catholics.
