Pope Names 19 New Cardinals, Focusing On The Poor

[highplainsdem]

Source: Talking Points Memo

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Sunday named his first batch of cardinals, choosing 19 men from Asia, Africa, and elsewhere, including Haiti and Burkino Faso, to reflect his attention to the poor.

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Sixteen of the appointees are younger than 80, meaning they are eligible to elect the next pope, which is a cardinal's most important task. The ceremony to formally install them as cardinals will be held Feb. 22 at the Vatican.

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Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the pope's selection of churchmen from Haiti and Burkino Faso, which are among the world's poorest nations, reflects Francis' attention to the destitute as a core part of the church's mission.

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His selections also came from Managua, Nicaragua; Santiago, Chile; and Rio de Janeiro. The appointees included churchmen from Seoul, South Korea, and the archbishop of Westminster, in Britain, Vincent Nichols.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/pope-francis-19-new-cardinals-focus-poor

[MannyGoldstein]

1. None from Goldman-Sachs? WTF?

How can a serious adult hope to run the Vatican without the help of the best and brightest the world has to offer? And after their CEO went out of his way to say they're doing "God's work"?

If the Pope's so interested in economic inequality, then where's his free trade agreements?

Sorry, I'm not buying what he's selling, mister.

Regards,

TWM

[DerekG]

2. Now THIS is what 3-dimensional chess is supposed to look like

n/t

[underpants]

5. LOL

[Beacool]

3. Good for the Pope.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Full list: Europe 8, Latin America/Caribbean 6, Africa 2, Asia 2, Canada 1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25703940

[underpants]

6. This is like NFL draft day every year ....once again I didn't get a call

[LibDemAlways]

7. His choice of Vincent Nichols from the UK is interesting.

Nichols had taken flak in the past for allowing special masses for the LGBT community - masses he was pressured by the Vatican under Benedict to end. Although he has towed the Vatican line on same sex marriage, he has spoken favorably of civil unions. He was also passed over by Benedict last time around. And he has spoken forcefully about economic inequality. His elevation by Francis is a positive.

[CanonRay]

8. Someone here posted a while back to keep an eye on what new cardinals he named

as this was an indication of his reformation of the Vatican. Looks like he's after it. I've never been much of a lover of various Popes, but this guy is different.

[NCcoast]

9. Just FYI there are about 120 Cardinals altogether

I just looked this up for my own curiosity. Once a Cardinal reaches age of 80 they retain the title of Cardinal but cannot vote with the enclave. So 19 represents a pretty substantial percentage of that body. This Pope has an agenda and he's not being timid about making things happen.

[Ohio Joe]

10. Well then... That makes it ok for him to keep hiding pedophile priests I guess...

Yay pope!

[Ken Burch]

11. That's good. I'm puzzled about one thing, though.

Why did he appoint three cardinals who were already OVER eighty? It's a small thing, but why give the jobs to men who are going to be dead, most likely, within five to ten years?

No disrespect to older people intended...just wondering why you would choose a person of that age for a job like that.

[rustbeltvoice]

12. Hell-o Ken,

The last revision of canon law was in 1983. Before that date one did not have to be a priest (though perhaps it may have been centuries since one had not been, i don't know). It is considered an honor, but it is not part of the standard hierarchy. Sometimes the very elderly receive the red hat as does an old great actor receives a special Oscar. If one were to translate the honor into other words, it would be a sort of worthy adviser.

One of the new cardinals, Loris Francesco Capovilla,is ninety-eight years old. He had been the personal secretary to Pope John XXIII.
A pope can choose a cardinal "in peccatore", when the man is in danger for life, or governmental retaliation. Such a nomination is in secret, sometimes the man himself does not receive word. So, not all cardinals are then bureaucratically active.

It is very interesting that two of the cardinals are from the poorest country in the western hemisphere (Haiti), and perhaps the poorest one in the eastern (Burkino Faso). Some episcopal sees are expected to be headed by a cardinal bishop, such as New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Chicago in the US, even if the man that is archbishop is of insufficient calibre.

[Ken Burch]

13. I appreciate the explanation...but why the seeming snark(if I read that right)?

Not everybody can be expected to be up to speed on all of that, y'know.

And as I said, I'm glad that the cardinals from the really poor countries were chosen.

[rustbeltvoice]

15. snark? Huh?

The incumbent in certain episcopal sees routinely is chosen as cardinal. Some of these individuals are bad choices. I am comfortable to say, Dolan of New York, Chaput of Philadelphia, and especially Burke of St. Louis are bad choices. Also when a cardinal is over eighty, he has no curial appointment. Law of Boston fits that niche, but the title remains. Law is disgraced, he is not punished.

The selection from the poor countries, absolutely, is meant to be a message. I would have to do an internet or library search to know anything about either man. The archbishop of Westminster would be a routine selection.

[Archae]

14. I'd be willing to bet money...

Half (or more) of those cardinals either molested kids or covered up for molesting priests.

Cardinal Law is still a big shot in the Vatican.

Archbishop Finn is still an archbishop.

Despite the good Francis has done, the kiddie molester contingent going all the way to nearly the top still has not been taken to task.