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The Catholic Church has always seen itself as a universal Church. However, for a long time his leadership was dominated by Italians and other Europeans. With Francisco he is now becoming more and more international.
The Archbishop of Washington Wilton Gregory becomes the first African American in the College of Cardinals.
Pope Francis nominated 13 new cardinals. In a consistory on November 28 they will be “created”, that is, they will be elevated to the category of cardinals. As before, Francis made clear personal accents with this appointment. The latest appointments show a similar pattern to previous years. Ecclesiastical and religious who have committed to social problems and human rights are increasingly involved. In addition, the clergy of distant countries are promoted, seen from Rome. Italians are not lacking, but again the historical claims to a cardinal of bishops of important dioceses such as Milan are not taken into account.
Francis prepares the election of his successor
The governing body of the Catholic Church is gradually becoming more international under Francis. This is necessary and imperative, since the church sees itself as a universal church.
The Pope has a free hand to appoint cardinals. With these promotions he took a step forward in the choice of his successors. By the end of November, there will be 232 cardinals, 128 of whom will then be under 80 years old and therefore entitled to vote in a papal election. Most of them, 73, were appointed by Francisco. 14 are Italians, 53 are Europeans, 29 are considered cardinals of the Curia with functions in the Vatican.
A notable figure among the newly appointed cardinals by origin and career is, for example, Cornelius Sim (69) of the Sultanate of Brunei. He was first an oil engineer in the service of Shell, then he became a theologian and the first Catholic bishop in the small predominantly Islamic oil state. Or Antoine Kambanda (61) from Rwanda, who lost almost his entire family in the 1994 genocide. As Caritas director, moral theologian and bishop, he was practically and theoretically involved in accepting major crimes and rebuilding Rwandan society.
First African American Cardinal
African-American Wilton Gregory, 72, Archbishop of Washington, becomes the first African-American at the College of Cardinals. The Filipino José Fuerte Advincula (68) and the Mexican Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel (80) also come from outside Europe; both campaigned for the needs of indigenous peoples in their countries. Celestino Aos Braco (75), Spanish by origin, played an important role in the late confrontation of the abuse scandal in Chile, where the Pope himself had made an unfortunate figure.
The Maltese Mario Grech (63) is considered a representative of a church that takes note of social change and does not hide behind dogmas. Six of those appointed are Italian. Augusto Lojudice (56) and Silvano Tomasi (80) dealt with migrants and marginalized groups. Marcello Semeraro (73) recently assumed the Congregation for Saints and Beatifications and is therefore ex officio cardinal. Those appointed are all bishops or archbishops. But this time, simple priests wearing purple are also appointed: the Franciscan Mauro Gambetti, the youngest of those appointed at 55, the Capuchin Raniero Cantalamessa (86) and the former director of Roman Caritas Enrico Feroci (80).
