Pope Francis has chosen 21 new cardinals to help reform the Catholic Church, relying heavily on diversity just days before a meeting where he will outline plans for his future and discuss controversial issues such as LGBTQ+ followers, the role of women in the church and celibacy.
The new “princes of the church,” including Chicago-born Robert Prevost — were installed Saturday by the 86-year-old pope in St. Peter.
In his instructions to the new cardinals, Pope Francis said their diversity and geographic diversity will serve the church like musicians in an orchestra, who sometimes play solo while performing as part of an ensemble at other times.
“Diversity is necessary; it is very necessary. However, each sound must contribute to the common design,” he said.
“This is why listening to each other is important: each musician must listen to the other.”
Each new cardinal takes an oath to obey the pope, remain faithful to Christ and serve the church. The Pope reminded them that they wear red as a sign that they must be strong “to the point of shedding blood” to spread the faith.
Pope Francis has chosen 21 new cardinals to help reform the Catholic Church, leaning on diversity.
The new cardinals come from the US, France, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan — the country’s first — Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania, Venezuela and Portugal.
The ceremony was not without controversy, as the appointment of Victor Manuel Fernandez, head of the Vatican’s new doctrinal office, was met with outrage.
The man known as the “papal theologian” admitted to making mistakes in the handling of a 2019 case involving a priest accused of sexually abusing minors in Argentina, when he was a bishop there.
A survivor urged Pope Francis to revoke Fernandez’s candidacy during a rally near the Vatican Friday.
Each new cardinal takes an oath to obey the pope, remain faithful to Christ and serve the church. The Pope reminded them that they wear red clothes as a sign that they must be strong “to the point of shedding blood” to spread the faith.REUTERS
“No bishop who has covered up child sex crimes and ignored and rejected victims of priest abuse in his diocese should hold a position that oversees, investigates and prosecutes priest sex offenders from around the world, or be made a cardinal,” Julieta Añazco said according to a statement from End Clergy Abuse.
Pope Francis said Fernandez would not deal with sexual assault cases as a cardinal. When he named him overseer of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, he said he wanted Fernandez to oversee a radical break from the past, adding the former Holy Office often used “immoral methods” to enforce his will.
Prevost, who is now responsible for vetting bishop candidates around the world, has also faced criticism. Although the Augustinian is higher in the US, he allowed the sexual abuser Fr. James Ray lived near a Catholic elementary school in 2000.
The cardinal was now seen before the council. Almost 100 of the 137 cardinals are under the age of 80, meaning they are eligible to vote for Pope Francis’ successor. Europe still has the most voting age cardinals with 52, followed by the Americas with 39 and Asia with 24.
The promotion of Prevost and French Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the papal ambassador in Washington, DC, signals that Pope Francis is eyeing a shift in the balance of power in the US, where conservative bishops are vocal critics of his reforms. Both will nominate new bishop candidates and oversee the investigation of existing bishop candidates.
“I think I have some insights about the church in the United States,” Prevost said after the ceremony. “So the need to be able to advise, work with Pope Francis and see the challenges facing the church in the United States, I hope to be able to answer them with a healthy dialogue.”
Pope Francis will host a synod from October 4 to 29 to discuss the role of women in the church, the LGBTQ+ church community and priestly celibacy with bishops and lay members. A second will happen next year.
Several new cardinals voted for members of the synod and clearly expressed their agreement with Pope Francis’ vision for the church.
Almost 100 of the 137 cardinals are under 80, meaning they will be eligible to vote for his successor.
Europe still has the most voting age cardinals with 52, followed by the Americas with 39 and Asia with 24.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
