Will Pope Francis Announce the Naming of New Cardinals on September 30th?

(Rome) For the 30th of September, the first ordinary consistory of Pope Francis’ pontificate will be convened. The subject will include the canonization of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II. and the announcement of the exact dates for the canonization will be expected. On this occasion the Pope could also announce the convening of his first extraordinary Consistory for the creation of new cardinals. This is at least what the Spanish Catholic Church Historian and blogger Francisco de la Cigoña says at the suggestion of Vatican sources.

Currently, nine seats are vacant in the College of Cardinals. On the 24th of September, there are ten, on the 19th of October eleven and there will be 12 on the 25th of December. On these days the Cardinals Raffaele Farina (Italy, 2007-2012 archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church), Geraldo Agnelo (Brazil, 1999-2011 Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia) and Joachim Meisner (Germany, since 1989 Archbishop of Cologne) will reach their 80th birthday and will cease to be active papal electors. Apart from this, the Pope could also temporarily exceed the number the number of 120 electoral cardinals, should he not be so eager to plan another consistory, or of course to continue expanding number.

On the future of the Cardinals who are in first place, is the recently appointed new Secretary Curia of Pope Francis Archbishop Pietro Parolin and the Prefect of the Congregation, Archbishop Curia Gerhard Ludwig Müller, appointed early July of 2012 by Pope Benedict.

Among the contenders for the Cardinalatial Purple are included, subject to surprises, also Archbishop Mario Aurelio of Buenos Aires, whom Pope Francis appointed after 15 days of his election as his successor in Argentina,. Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello SDB of Santiago de Chile (was appointed by Benedict XVI in 2010 ). Patriarch Francesco Moraglia of Venice (was appointed by Benedict XVI in 2012); Archbishop Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul (appointed by Benedict XVI in 2012).

Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of Los Angeles (appointed by Benedict XVI in 2011). However, his predecessor, Cardinal Roger Mahony will be in effect until the 27 of February 2016; Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard of Mechelen-Brussels (Appointed by Benedict XVI in 2010), who in the last two extraordinary consistories of Benedict XVI. was excluded because his predecessor Cardinal Godfried Danneels only celebrated his 80th birthday on the 4th of June. In accordance with church practice only one member of the College of Cardinals can be the Metropolitan Archbishop of the same district.

Other contenders are Archbishop Vincent Nicholas of Westminister (appointed by Benedict XVI. in 2009); Patriarch Manuel Jose Macario do Nascimento Clemente of Lisbon (appointed by Francis in 2013), but his predecessor Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo reaches his 80th birthday on the 26th of February 2016; OCist Archbishop Orani Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro (appointed by Benedict XVI. in 2009); Cesare Nosiglia, Archbishop of Turin, Cardinal Severino Poletto is his predecessor and reached 80 this on the last 18th of March (appointed by Benedict XVI in 2010.) and he was just still able to attend the conclave.

Other p;ossible contenders for the cardinal's hat are also Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmadjo from Jakarta (appointed by Benedict XVI. in 2010), although his predecessor Juliua Cardinal Darmaatmadja SJ only reached his 80th birthday on the 20th of December, 2014; Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput, OFM Cap, again with the caveat that his predecessor, Cardinal Justin Rigali won’t turn 80 until the 19th of April, 2015. (appointed by Benedict XVI in 2011.) leaves the circle of papal electors.

Of the Eastern Churches united with Rome, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church whose predecessor Ljubomyr Cardinal Husar last considered Cardinal candidate, turned 80 in February, two days before the entry into force of the vacancy and is therefore no longer allowed to participate in the conclave. Likewise, patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak of Alexandria, head of the Coptic Catholic Church, whose predecessor Cardinal Antonios Naguib, however, resigns only on the 7th of March, 2015 as an active elector.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: La cigüeña de la torre
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
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