VATICAN CITY, OCT. 20, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI announced the names of 24 prelates who will be created cardinals, 20 of whom qualify as electors in the case of a conclave for a Papal election.
The Pope made the announcement today at the end of the general audience. The cardinals will be created in a consistory on Nov. 20, the eve of the Solemnity of Christ the King.
This will be the third consistory of Benedict XVI’s pontificate, after two celebrated on March 24, 2006 and Nov. 24, 2007.
In his address, the Holy Father stated that cardinals «have the task of helping Peter’s Successor carry out his mission as permanent and visible source and foundation of the Church’s unity of faith and communion.»
The majority of the new cardinals are European (15), with 10 coming from Italy. In the group, four are from the Americas, another four are from Africa, and one is from Asia.
After this consistory, the total number of cardinals will be 203, of which 121 are electors (less than 80 years old).
The new cardinals who qualify as electors are:
— Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes
— Patriarch Antonios Naguib of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt
— Archbishop Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum
— Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
— Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary
— Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature
— Archbishop Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
— Archbishop Paolo Sardi, vice chamberlain of Apostolic Chamber
— Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy
— Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See
— Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture
— Archbishop Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, retired archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia
— Archbishop Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, retired archbishop of Quito, Ecuador
— Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
— Archbishop Paolo Romeo of Palermo, Italy
— Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington
— Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, Brazil
— Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw, Poland
— Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don of Colombo, Sri Lanka
— Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany
As well, the Pontiff elevated to the dignity of cardinal two prelates and two priests, who are over the age of 80 and are thus non-electors, for their «generosity and dedication in the service of the Church.» These include:
— Archbishop José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, retired archbishop of Spain’s military
— Bishop Elio Sgreccia, former president of the Pontifical Academy for Life
— Monsignor Walter Brandmuller, former president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences
— Monsignor Domenico Bartolucci, former director of the Pontifical Choir
