Pope Francis appointed 21 new cardinals on Sunday, marking a substantial increase in the size of the College of Cardinals and solidifying his influence on the group responsible for electing his successor. The new cardinals encompass a diverse range of backgrounds and ages, with Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, a 99-year-old retired Vatican diplomat, becoming the oldest cardinal, and Bishop Mykola Bychok, a 44-year-old Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church leader in Melbourne, Australia, being the youngest.
The upcoming consistory on December 8 will see the new cardinals receive their red hats, with Monsignor Acerbi being the only one over 80 and therefore ineligible to vote for the next pope. The current number of cardinal-electors now stands at 142, exceeding the usual limit of 120, as popes occasionally surpass the cap to maintain a robust College of Cardinals.
Among the newly appointed cardinals are prominent figures from South America, such as Archbishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, and Archbishop Jaime Spengler of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Notably, Archbishop Francis Leo of Toronto is the sole new cardinal from North America.
Reflecting the global reach of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis also selected Monsignor Dominique Joseph Mathieu from Tehran, Iran, and Monsignor Paskalis Bruno Syukor from Bogor, Indonesia, both Franciscan cardinals. Asia welcomed two more cardinals, Monsignor Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi from Tokyo and Monsignor Pablo Virgilio Sinogco David from Kalookan, Philippines.
Additionally, Africa gained two new cardinals, Monsignor Ignace Bessi Dogbo from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and Monsignor Jean-Paul Vesco from Algiers, Algeria. The diverse appointments underscore Pope Francis' commitment to ensuring representation from various regions within the College of Cardinals.
Furthermore, the inclusion of Vatican officials like Rev. Fabio Baggio and Rev. George Jacob Koovakad, along with theologian Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, demonstrates the pope's emphasis on inclusivity and diverse perspectives within the church leadership.
The nomination of Bishop Bychok, the only cardinal from Ukraine, carries symbolic significance amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The decision was met with praise from Ukraine's ambassador to the Holy See, highlighting the geopolitical implications of the appointment.
