Vatican City
Reuters
Pope Francis on Saturday further cemented his legacy, elevating 21 prelates to the high rank of cardinal and significantly raising the percentage of electors chosen by him who will have the right to vote for his successor.
At a ceremony in St Peter’s Square known as a consistory, Francis “created” 21 new cardinals, the red-hatted “princes of the church” who are his closest advisers at the Vatican and around the world.
Pope Francis blesses new Cardinal Grzegorz Rys, during a consistory ceremony to elevate Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, in St Peter’s square at the Vatican, on 30th September, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Remo Casilli
Pope Francis and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Church, attend the ecumenical prayer vigil in St Peter’s square at the Vatican, on 30th September, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Remo Casilli
POPE FRANCIS APPEALS AGAINST POLARIZATION AHEAD OF BIG CHURCH MEETING
Pope Francis said on Saturday that he hoped an upcoming global encounter at the Vatican would be a propitious time of unity and fraternity and not cause further polarisation in the Catholic Church.
The 86-year-old pontiff spoke at an ecumenical prayer vigil attended by leaders of various Christian Churches in St Peter’s Square ahead of the opening on Wednesday of major month-long meeting in the Vatican, known as a synod, that could chart the church’s future.
“Let us ask that the synod be a ‘kairos’ of fraternity, a place where the Holy Spirit will purify the church from gossip, ideologies and polarization,” he said, using the ancient Greek word roughly meaning an opportune or critical moment to do something of significance.
About 18,000 people, mostly young Christians from around the world, attended, reading prayers for victims of war, injustice and sexual violence and calling for defence of the environment. Hundreds were later starting a three-day retreat north of Rome ahead of the opening of the synod.
The 4th to 29th October synod has been in preparation for two years, during which Catholics around the world were asked about their vision for the future of the church. A second final session will be held in October, 2024, and be followed by a papal document.
The synod has been controversial since Francis first announced it 2020. Various groups have arrived in Rome to hold news conferences, presentations and protests to illustrate their views, suggestions and demands.
Proponents have welcomed the consultations as an opportunity to change the church’s power dynamics and give a greater voice to lay Catholics, including women, and people on the margins of society.
Conservatives say the process has been a waste of time, may erode the hierarchical structure of the nearly 1.3 billion-member church and in the long run could dilute traditional doctrine.
About 365 “members” with voting rights will attend, along with about 100 other participants such as observers and delegates from other Christian churches. Women will be allowed to vote for the first time.
The prayer vigil was attended Christian leaders including Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican communion, and Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch of Orthodox Christianity.
– PHILIP PULLELLA, Vatican City/Reuters
There are now 137 cardinal electors, about 73 per cent of them chosen by Francis. This increases – but does not guarantee – the possibility that the next pope will share his vision of a more progressive, inclusive church.
Eighteen of the 21 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible under church law to enter a secret conclave to elect the next pope after Francis’ death or resignation. They are known as cardinal electors. The three 80 or over were given the honour because of their long service to the church.
The new cardinals come from the US, France, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Portugal.
South Sudan got its first cardinal and Malaysia got the second in its history, a continuation of Francis’ policy of giving more recognition to places he has called the “peripheries” of the world, often those racked by war or where Catholics are a minority.
Key appointments
One significant appointment is that of Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan of Hong Kong. Chow is one of the major links to the Catholic Church in communist China, where the Vatican is trying to improve conditions for Catholics. The bishop made a historic visit to Beijing in April.
Another is that of Italian Bishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Francis’ apostolic administrator in the Holy Land, where the Vatican fears that the historical presence of Christians is under threat.
“Diversity is necessary; it is indispensable,” Francis said in his homily at the service, during which each new cardinal received a ring of office and the red, three-blade hat known as a “biretta”.
It was the Pope’s ninth consistory since his election in 2013 and continued changes over the past decade, during which the percentage of Asian and African cardinal electors has grown while that of those from Europe has fallen.
Francis turns 87 in December and whether he convokes another consistory next year or in 2025 depends on how long he lives. While he uses a wheelchair and a cane and has undergone several operations, overall he has not slowed down and still keeps a busy schedule.
On 4th October, he will open a month-long major meeting in the Vatican, known as a synod, that could chart the church’s future.
In his homily on Saturday morning he called for “an ever more symphonic and synodal church”.
Using the metaphor of an orchestra, Francis appeared to refer to divisions between progressives and conservatives in the 1.3 billion member church, saying one section or instrument cannot play alone or drown out the others.
It was his job, as “conductor” to listen and try to achieve a “creative fidelity”.
A general view of Pope Francis leading a consistory ceremony to elevate Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, in Saint Peter’s square at the Vatican, on 30th September, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Remo Casilli
The 4th to 29th October synod has been in preparation for two years, during which Catholics around the world were asked about their vision for the future of the church.
Proponents have welcomed the consultations as an opportunity to change the church’s power dynamics and give a greater voice to lay Catholics, including women, and people on the margins of society.
Conservatives say the process has been a waste of time, may erode the hierarchical structure of the nearly 1.3 billion-member church and in the long run could dilute traditional doctrine. A second final session will be held in 2024.
