Pope Francis Elevates 21 New Cardinals

In a stunning announcement on Sunday, Pope Francis appointed 21 new cardinals, marking a significant expansion of the College of Cardinals. Notably, the Archbishop of Toronto, Francis Leo, 53, was selected as the only new cardinal from North America.

Archbishop Francis Leo

Born in Montreal, Archbishop Leo has a distinguished background in the church, previously serving as vicar general and moderator of the Curia in the Archdiocese of Montreal. Since taking over as the Archbishop of Toronto in March 2023, he has been recognized for his dedication to serving the community. Although the news was unexpected, he expressed his gratitude in a statement, saying he feels 'humbled and honoured' and is committed to being a 'worthy servant of the Lord Jesus' in his new role.

Significance of the Appointments

Pope Francis's decision to elevate this many cardinals is seen as a strategic move to shape the future of the papacy, as this group will eventually elect his successor. They will officially receive their red hats in a consistory ceremony scheduled for December 8.

Notable New Cardinals

Among the new cardinals is Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, a retired Vatican diplomat who made headlines decades ago for being held hostage for six weeks in Colombia. At 99 years old, he is the only new cardinal over the age of 80, thus ineligible to vote for the next pope.

Global Representation

The Pope’s appointments also include key figures from South America, further solidifying influence from this vibrant region of the Catholic Church. Cardinal-designates include Vicente Bokalic Iglic, archbishop of Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Jaime Spengler, archbishop of Porto Alegre, Brazil; and Fernando Chomali Garib, archbishop of Santiago, Chile.

Additionally, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Dominique Joseph Mathieu, the archbishop of Tehran, Iran, and Monsignor Paskalis Bruno Syukor, the bishop of Bogor, Indonesia, illustrating his commitment to global representation within the Church leadership.

Ongoing Canadian Influence

Importantly, Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto, remains an active member of the cardinal electors until January 2027. Alongside him, Cardinal Gérald Lacroix of Quebec and Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, are among other Canadian cardinal-electors.

Conclusion