On June 28, 2017, Pope Francis will preside over a consistory for the creation of five new cardinals. During his Regina Coeli address in St. Peter’s Square yesterday, May 21, Francis made this announcement.
The designated cardinals come from four continents: one from Asia, one from Africa, one from Central America and two from Europe. “Their origin in different parts of the world,” the Pope explained to the crowd, “manifests the Catholicity of the Church spread throughout the earth.”
As of June 28, with these new creations, the College of Cardinals will have a total of 227 members, including 121 electors (49 created by Pope Francis) and 106 non-voters over the age of 80.
The last consistory for the creation of cardinals dates back to Nov. 19, 2016. At the end of the Jubilee of Mercy, the Pope had created 17 cardinals, including 13 electors and 4 non-voters.
With these five new members, Pope Francis will have created 60 cardinals since the beginning of his pontificate.
The five future cardinals are all under the age of 80. They will therefore be voters in the event of a conclave.
- Bishop Jean Zerbo, Archbishop of Bamako, Mali, 73
- Bishop Juan José Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona in Spain, 71
- Bishop Anders Arborelius, Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden, 67
- Bishop Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, Apostolic Vicar of Pakse in Laos, 73 years old
- Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador in El Salvador, Gregorio Rosa Chávez, 74 years old
On Thursday, June 29, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Pope will celebrate the Mass with the new cardinals, the College of Cardinals, and the metropolitan bishops appointed during the year.
“Let us confide the new cardinals to the protection of the saints Peter and Paul,” the Pope prayed, “so that with the intercession of the Prince of the Apostles, they may be genuine servants of ecclesial communion and with that of the Apostle Of the Gentiles, they are joyful proclaimers of the Gospel throughout the world.”
