Pope Francis Announces 21 New Cardinals From Around The World
Pope Francis has announced the creation of 21 new Cardinals from various parts of the globe, with a consistory scheduled for December 8, 2024, at the Vatican. The announcement was made after the Pope’s Sunday Angelus prayer.
The new Cardinals hail from countries including Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Japan, the Philippines, Serbia, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Canada, and Australia. This diverse group reflects the universality of the Catholic Church.
“Their origins express the universality of the Church, which continues to proclaim God’s merciful love to all people on earth,” Pope Francis said. He also asked the faithful to pray for the new Cardinals, that they may “confirm their adherence to Christ” and support him in his ministry.
The Consistory will bring the total number of Cardinals to 256, with 141 eligible to participate in the Papal conclave. This announcement comes ahead of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope and the conclusion of the Second Session of the Synod on Synodality.
*List of New Cardinals:*
1. Angelo Acerbi, Apostolic Nuncio
2. Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio, Archbishop of Lima (Peru)
3. Vicente Bokalic Iglic, Archbishop of Santiago del Estero (Argentina)
4. Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador)
5. Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile (Chile)
6. Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo (Japan)
7. Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, Bishop of Kalookan (Philippines)
8. Ladislav Nemet, Archbishop of Beograd-Smederevo (Serbia)
9. Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil)
10. Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop of Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
11. Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Alger (Algeria)
12. Paskalis Bruno Syukur, Bishop of Bogor (Indonesia)
13. Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran Ispahan (Iran)
14. Roberto Repole, Archbishop of Turin (Italy)
15. Baldassare Reina, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome
16. Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto (Canada)
17. Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest Coadjutor Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major
18. Mykola Bychok, Bishop of the Eparchy Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne of the Ukrainians
19. Timothy Peter Joseph Radcliffe, theologian
20. Fabio Baggio, Under Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development
21. George Jacob Koovalakal, Official of the Secretary of State
The Consistory will take place on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, highlighting the significance of this announcement for the global Catholic community.
