By John Ikani
Pope Francis has appointed 21 clergymen from various parts of the world as cardinals, highlighting the importance of diversity within the Catholic Church’s future.
The 86-year-old Pope welcomed these newly appointed “Princes of the Church” in Vatican City’s majestic St. Peter’s Square, where a significant crowd had gathered.
The group of cardinals includes individuals who might one day become the next Pope.
“The College of Cardinals is called to resemble a symphony orchestra, representing the harmony and synodality of the Church,” emphasized Francis, seated beneath a canopy in front of the assembled cardinals on St. Peter’s Basilica’s steps.
“Diversity is necessary; it is indispensable. However, each sound must contribute to the common design,” added the Argentine Jesuit.
The selection of the new cardinals, consisting of diplomats, close advisors, and administrators, carries substantial weight, reflecting the Church’s priorities and stance.
Among them, there may be one chosen to succeed Pope Francis, who has indicated the possibility of stepping down if his health requires it in the future.
Saturday’s ceremony, referred to as a consistory, marks the ninth since Francis took the helm of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics in 2013.
Each cardinal, donning scarlet attire, knelt before the Pope, who bestowed upon them the symbols of their high office: a scarlet four-cornered cap known as a biretta and a cardinal’s ring.
Pope Francis greeted some with encouraging words like “Bravo!” or “Courage!” as he shook their hands.
Eighteen of the 21 newly appointed cardinals are below the age of 80, making them eligible to vote in the next conclave, where the successor to Pope Francis will be chosen.
They are part of the 99 cardinal electors created by Francis, constituting about three-quarters of the total, fueling speculation that the future Pope may continue the path of tolerance and a focus on the disadvantaged, similar to Francis’s approach.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has actively aimed to create a more inclusive and universal Church, extending his reach beyond Europe to the clergy in Africa, Asia, and Latin America for top Church positions.
With this latest group of cardinals, he once again looked to the Church’s growing regions, breaking from the tradition of promoting archbishops from influential dioceses.
“He is looking for cardinals who correspond to the times. These are people who have all taken a step away from the Church of the past, who positively ensure a break,” noted an informed observer of the Holy See, who preferred to remain anonymous, ahead of the ceremony.
The diverse group of cardinals represents a wealth of experiences, reflecting the Church’s commitment to encompassing all people, not limited to a specific group.
Three new cardinals hail from South America, including two from Argentina, and three from Africa, including archbishops from South Sudan’s Juba, Tanzania’s Tabora, and Cape Town’s Stephen Brislin.
Representing Asia are the Bishop of Penang in Malaysia and Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong, who is expected to play a crucial role in improving relations between the Vatican and Beijing, particularly in sensitive geopolitical contexts.
Some of the newly appointed cardinals, like Chow, bring valuable experience from regions where the Holy See seeks to play a vital diplomatic role.
The list also includes Italian Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Catholic authority in the Holy Land and the first Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to become a cardinal, who emphasized the challenges of interreligious and intercultural dynamics.
In addition, Pope Francis selected top administrators within the Curia, the Holy See’s governing body.
This includes Claudio Gugerotti, the Italian prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; Argentina’s Victor Manuel Fernandez, who leads the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; and Robert Prevost, originally from Chicago, who previously served as a missionary in Peru and now heads the Dicastery for Bishops.