Scottish Catholic Observer

The majority of the cardinals-designate chosen by Pope Francis reflect the diversity of the Church; its growing needs of the Church on five continents; and the ordained men he believes are up to the challenge of meeting those needs. However, the new cardinals, who are to be elevated at a special ceremony on February 14, include five prelates who have already turned 80. The Pope is honouring these men, who are ineligible to participate in a Papal conclave, ‘for their pastoral charity in the service of the Holy See and of the Church.’

The Pope told the Faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday to hear the announcement that the new batch of cardinals ‘shows the inseparable tie with the Church of Rome to churches in the world.’

The new cardinals who govern dioceses will be:

— Archbishiop Manuel José Macario do Nascimento Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon (Portugal)

— Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, CM, of Addis Abeba (Ethiopia)

— Archbishop John Atcherley Dew of Wellington (New Zealand) (above left)

— Archbishop Edoardo Menichelli of Ancona-Osimo (Italy)

— Archbishop Pierre Nguyên Văn Nhon of Hanoi (Viêtnam)

— Archbishop Alberto Suàrez Inda of Morelia (Mexico)

— Archbishop Charles Maung Bo, SDB, of Yangon (Myanmar)

— Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij of Bangkok (Thailand)

— Archbishop Francesco Montenegro of Agrigento (Italy)

— Archbishop Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, SDB, of Montevideo (Uruguay)

— Archbishop Ricardo Blázquez Pérez of Vallodolid (Spain)

— Bishop José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán, OAR, of David (Panamá)

— Bishop Arlindo Gomes Furtado of Santiago de Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)

— Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafi of Tonga (Tonga)

The Holy Father will preside at a solemn concelebration with the new cardinals on February 15, after a February 12-13 consistory with all the cardinals ‘to reflect on the orientations and proposals for the reform of the Roman Curia.’

Through his selection of cardinals-designate, the Argentine Pope, made clear his new vision of the church’s identity, including of its hierarchy by looking beyond traditional metropolitan area for the ‘princes of the church’ who will eventually elect his successor.

Only one of the new cardinals—Archbishop Dominique Mamberti (above right), Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura—is currently serving in the Roman Curia, and 14 are residential bishops.