Pope Francis’ choices for who will be made new cardinals reflect the universality of the Church.
This is the view of Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, who was named to succeed Cardinal Raymond Burke in that position just recently. The Italian archbishop had been serving as Vatican Secretary for Relations with States.
In an interview with Vatican Radio following the Pope’s announcement Sunday of the names of the 20 archbishops and bishops who will be made cardinals, Archbishop Mamberti reflected not only on the Pope’s choice to make him a cardinal but also on Francis’ other choices.
When asked about his being chosen, the prelate expressed his joy.
“My heart is filled with gratitude to the Holy Father for the confidence he has expressed in naming me among the cardinals, who are also his advisers,” he said.
Reflecting on the significance to him of being a cardinal, the archbishop noted how the appointment seems to mean really being included in the Church of Rome.
“So it is, in a sense, a continuation of 30 years of service I have made to the Holy See,” he said, “but now with a greater responsibility because of the very fact of being counted among the advisers of the Pope and then to be inserted in the Church of Rome.”
When asked about the Pope choosing cardinals from all over the world, the prelate responded, “I think it’s clear that the Holy Father wanted to show the universality of the Church.”
Pope Francis choosing bishops and pastors who come from these places, the soon to be cardinal said, reflected Francis’ intent that “the College of Cardinals would be representative of the universality and diversity of the Church in the world.”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Announcement and List of 20 New Cardinals: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-announces-names-of-20-new-cardinals
Fr. Lombardi’s Remarks: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/vatican-spokesman-reflects-on-those-chosen-to-be-cardinals
