Pope Francis made a move by appointing 21 new cardinals, thereby expanding the College of Cardinals and solidifying his influence over the group that will eventually elect his successor.
This strategic appointment reflects the Pope's vision for a more diverse and globally representative Church leadership.
The newly appointed cardinals predominantly hail from South America, with key figures leading major dioceses and archdioceses in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
Notable appointments include the archbishops of Santiago del Estero, Porto Alegre, Santiago, Guayaquil, and Lima.
These leaders will receive their red hats during a consistory ceremony scheduled for December 8, an event that marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Rome.
Pope Francis has already named the majority of the voting-age cardinals eligible to participate in a future conclave. Before this announcement, 92 of the cardinals under 80 had been appointed by him, compared to 24 by Pope Benedict XVI and six by St. John Paul II.
This latest round of appointments includes two Vatican officials who typically do not hold cardinal rank: the Rev. Fabio Baggio, responsible for the migrants section of the Vatican development office, and the Rev.
George Jacob Koovakad, who organizes the pope’s foreign travels.
In addition to the South American appointments, the Pope has also included representatives from Asia and Africa, further emphasizing his commitment to diversity.
Among these are the archbishop of Tehran, Monsignor Dominique Joseph Mathieu; the archbishop of Tokyo, Monsignor Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi; and the bishop of Kalookan, Philippines, Monsignor Pablo Virgilio Sinogco David.
Africa is represented by the archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monsignor Ignace Bessi Dogbo, and the bishop of Algiers, Algeria, Monsignor Jean-Paul Vesco.
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