Twenty new cardinals who were appointed by Pope Francis yesterday who were chosen from all four corners of the globe, even as majority of them may someday choose the pope’s successor.
Due to his deteriorating health, Francis has mentioned the likelihood of having to retire, a decision that his predecessor Benedict XVI also took. If he were to step down, a conclave of all cardinals under the age of 80 would be summoned to appoint a replacement.
Judging on their ages, sixteen of the twenty cardinals elected on Saturday would be qualified to participate in that conclave.
The 85-year-old pontiff presided over the eighth ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica since his installation in 2013, and clerics were recognized for their pastoral work and, under certain instances, progressive ideas were present.
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His choice included new cardinals from Brazil, Nigeria, Singapore, and East Timor, among other nations from all regions of the world.
Every one of them bowed before the pope, who gave them the red square headgear and ring emblematic of their new rank.
“A cardinal loves the Church… by dealing with the big issues as well as the small ones, by meeting the great people of this world as well as the smallest, who is great before God,” stated the pontiff, who came in a wheelchair but appeared to be in good health.
Except for Ghana’s Richard Kuuia Baawobr, who had to be hospitalized due to a coronary ailment, all new cardinals were present for the ceremony.
Out of the 132 cardinals who are currently eligible to nominate a new pope, Francis will have selected 83 by the end of this week. That amounts to about two-thirds of the total and is exactly the limit at which any proposed name would be approved.
The pope has recently been compelled to use a wheelchair as a result of knee problems, which he has claimed is untreatable. Additionally, he has sciatica, a persistent nerve disorder that affects the hip.
