Pope Francis, at the end of today’s Angelus, unexpectedly announced a
consistory for 19 November, the eve of the closing of the Jubilee of
Mercy.
On that occasion he will welcome 17 new cardinals. They include Mgr Mario Zenari, a great friend of AsiaNews
who remains nuncio in the beloved and martyred Syria"; Mgr Patrick
Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh); Mgr Anthony Soter Fernandez,
Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur, and others.
Here is the press release from the Vatican Press Office with Pope Francis’s statement:
“Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“I am pleased to announce that Saturday, 19 November, the eve of the
closing of the Holy Door of Mercy, I will hold a Consistory for the
appointment of 13 new cardinals from the five continents. Their origin
from 11 nations expresses the universality of the Church, which
proclaims and bears witness to the Good News of God's Mercy in every
corner of the earth.
The inclusion of the new cardinals in the diocese
of Rome also manifests the indissoluble bond between the See of Peter
and the particular Churches around the world.
On Sunday 20 November, Solemnity of Christ the King, in ending the
Year of the Holy Extraordinary Mercy, I shall celebrate Mass together
with the new cardinals, the College of Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops
and priests.
“Here are the names of the new cardinals:
“Archbishop Mario Zenari (Italy), who remains apostolic nuncio in the beloved and martyred Syria
Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga (Central African Republic)
Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra (Spain)
Archbishop Sérgio da Rocha (Brazil)
Archbishop Blase J. Cupich (United States)
Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario (Bangladesh)
Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo (Venezuela)
Archbishop Jozef De Kesel (Belgium)
Archbishop Maurice Piat (Mauritius)
Archbishop Kevin Joseph Farrell (United States)
Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes (Mexico)
Archbishop John Ribat (Papua Nuova Guinea)
Archbishop Mons. Joseph William Tobin (United States)
“To the Members of the College of Cardinals, I shall also unite two
Archbishops and an Emeritus Bishop, who distinguished themselves in
their pastoral service, and a priest who has offered a clear Christian
testimony. They represent the many bishops and priests in the Church who
build the People of God, announcing God’s merciful love in the daily
care of the Lord's flock and in the confession of faith.
“They are:
Archbishop Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Archbishop Renato Corti, Archbishop Emeritus of Novara Italy
Archbishop Sebastian Koto Khoarai, Bishop Emeritus of Mohale’s Hoek Lesotho
Father Ernest Simoni, presbytery of the Archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult, Scutari – Albania.
“Let us pray for the new cardinals so that by confirming their faithfulness to Christ, merciful and faithful high priest (cf. Heb
2:17), they may help me in my ministry as Bishop of Rome and ‘permanent
and visible source and foundation of unity of faith and communion’ (cf.
LG, 18).”