Profiles that are more pastoral and less linked to the Roman Curia. This is the model of cardinal that Pope Francis seems to want in a possible conclave. The Pope has already appointed 80% of the 140 electors, with a record average of 11 per year.
With his tenth consistory, the Pope confirms his commitment to the universalization of the Church. The number of countries represented increases to 94, but the average age reduces to 69.
Of the 20 new cardinals, only two are linked to the Vatican. The Pope rewards the work of Fabio Baggio, undersecretary of the department that works with migrants and refugees, and that of the Indian Koovakad, in charge of papal travel.
In Rome, but not in the Vatican, Pope Francis creates a cardinal who is now the new vicar general of his diocese, and the coadjutor of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the Pope wants to be buried.
The pontiff continues to keep an eye on Ukraine and the Middle East. In an almost diplomatic gesture, he has included in the list a Ukrainian who resides in Australia, and who will be the youngest cardinal in the College of Cardinals at 44 years of age. Also a Belgian missionary with almost 10 years of experience in Lebanon and who is now in Iran, where only 1% are Catholics.
One of the most complete profiles is that of the Canadian Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto: 53 years old, he speaks four languages and knows Asia and Oceania well, where he has been a diplomat in Australia and Hong Kong.
Another of Pope Francis' great bets has been the Synod, to which the Pope wanted to give importance in this consistory. For example, he has created Radcliff, known for his meditations, as a cardinal, but also an African prelate from the Ivory Coast and the Archbishop of Tokyo, who is also the head of Caritas Internationalis.
This is yet another example of the Pope reaching out to the peripheries, while he leaves out the big European capitals such as Paris, Brussels and Lisbon, but includes Serbia. The Pope also strengthens the weight of Latin America, which will have 5 more cardinals.
If there were to be a conclave now, there would be a surplus of cardinals, since Paul VI set the maximum at 120, although it is true that in 2025 there will be 13 cardinals over the age of 80, so that by the end of 2025 there should be 127 electors.
TR: JD
