Yesterday, Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in a moving ceremony that saw the participation of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
The ceremony was the culmination of an intense week which began with the third meeting of the Council of Cardinals and ended with the Consistory, where Cardinals from around the world spoke on the theme of the family.
The newly created Cardinals are a tapestry of various backgrounds, ranging from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State to Cardinal Chibly Langlois, the first Cardinal from Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap, Archbishop of Boston and member of the Council of Cardinals (G8) that advises the Holy Father on the governance of the Church, expressed his joy after the yesterday’s ceremony.
In a brief interview with ZENIT, Cardinal O’Malley said the Consistory “indicates a continual growth and renewal” in the Church.
“The Holy Father has obviously chosen extraordinary individuals from different parts of the globe, many of them being the very first from their regions, which is a wonderful way of recognizing the universality of our church.”
When asked what direction the Church is going with the selection of these new Cardinals, the American prelate had no doubts where Francis is steering towards. “I’m sure the direction will be that of the joy of the Gospel,” he said.
