The other new cardinals come from Britain, South Korea, Spain, France, Nigeria, Brazil, India, United States, East Timor, Italy, Ghana, Paraguay and Colombia.
Pope Francis, who has chosen men who mostly agree with his vision of a more progressive and inclusive Church, has told new cardinals to care about ordinary people despite the high rank that will put them in touch with the mighty of the earth.
“A Cardinal loves the Church, always with that same spiritual fire, whether it is big questions or daily problems, with the powerful of this world or those ordinary people who are great in the eyes of God,” said Pope.
Sitting in front of the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis asked them to remember “poor families, migrants and the homeless”.
He read his homily in a loud voice, often going off script, even going so far as to joke about a priest in Rome who was so close to his parishioners that he not only knew all their names, but also the names of their dogs. .
Francis, elected pope in 2013, has now chosen 83 of the 132 cardinal electors, or around 63%.
At each consistory, Francis has pursued what one diplomat called an “Asian tilt,” increasing the likelihood that the next pope will come from the region that is a growing economic and political power.
With the last consistory in August 2022, Asia will have 21 cardinals.
The 85-year-old pontiff told Reuters in an interview last month that if he resigns in the future for health reasons – instead of dying in office – he does not plan to do so anytime soon. . That means he could appoint even more cardinals as early as next year.