Vatican City, 22 February 2014: Pope Francis presides at his first ordinary public
consistory on Saturday in St Peter's Basilica during which he creates 19 new cardinals.
16 of them are under the age of 80 and are therefore eligible to vote in a conclave
to choose a Pope. Three of the new cardinals are above 80 and are chosen for their
outstanding service to the Holy See and to the Universal Church. The new cardinals
come from all corners of the globe and from an incredibly diverse range of background
and ministry. Here are their brief profile...
Pietro Parolin Part of the
Holy See’s diplomatic corps since 1986, he was Apostolic Nuncio in Venezuela between
2009 and 2013, when Pope Francis nominated him Vatican Secretary of State.
Lorenzo
Baldisseri Previously Apostolic Nuncio in Brazil, where he welcomed Pope Benedict
XVI on his visit in 2007, he was Secretary of the Congregation of Bishops from January
2012 until nominated Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops by Pope Francis in
September 2013.
Gerhard Ludwig Muller Having graduated in philosophy and
theology, he was professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Catholic Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
in Munich (Germany) between 1986 and 2002, travelling as visiting professor to universities
worldwide. In 2012 Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Prefect of the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, President of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”,
President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and President of the International
Theological Commission.
Beniamino Stella Part of the Holy See’s diplomatic
corps since 1970, he was previously Apostolic Nuncio in Cuba and Colombia, and was
nominated Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy by Pope Francis in September
2013.
Vincent Gerard Nichols Master of Arts in Theology and previously Secretary
General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, he was Metropolitan
Archbishop of Birmingham (UK) between 2000 and 2009, when Pope Benedict XVI nominated
him Metropolitan Archbishop of Westminster (UK).
Leopoldo Josè Brenes Solorzano
He obtained his Licentiate of Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University
in Rome (Italy) and was nominated Metropolitan Archbishop of Managua (Nicaragua) by
Pope John Paul II in March 2005.
Gèrald Cyprien Lacroix, I.S.P.X. Part of
the “Institut Séculier Pie X” since 1975, he has been both Secretary General and Director
General of the institute, as well as Director General of its centre for spiritual
formation “Maison du Renouveau”. He was nominated Metropolitan Archbishop of Québec
(Canada) by Pope Benedict XVI in February 2011.
Jean-Pierre Kutwa Doctor
of Philosophy in Biblical Theology and previously Metropolitan Archbishop of Gagnoa
(Ivory Coast), he was nominated Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in
May 2006.
Orani Joao Tempesta, O. CIST. A member of the Cistercian Order
since 1969, he was Prior of the São Bernardo monastery in São José do Rio Pardo (Brazil)
from 1984 until the monastery became an abbey in 1996, when he was elected its first
Abbott. Previously President of Brazil’s National Commission for Culture, Education
and Social Communications, he was nominated Metropolitan Archbishop of São Sebastião
do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in February 2009, in which capacity he welcomed Pope Francis
on his visit in July 2013.
Gualitero Bassetti He was previously a member
of the Episcopal Commission of the Italian Episcopal Conference for the Clergy and
Consecrated Life, and a member of the Managing Board of the Catholic Committee for
Cultural Collaboration with Orthodox Churches of the Byzantine tradition and Eastern
Orthodox Churches. He is currently Vice-President of the Italian Episcopal Conference
for Central Italy, and Archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve (Italy).
Mario
Aurelio Pioli Having graduated as Doctor of Philosophy in Theology from the Pontifical
Catholic University of Argentina, he was appointed there as professor of Ecclesiastical
History in 1980. He is currently President of the Episcopal Commission for Catholic
Education and of the Episcopal Commission for Ministries with the Argentinian Episcopal
Conference, and was nominated Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina)
by Pope Francis in March 2013.
Andrew Yeom Soo-Jung Archbishop of Seoul
(South Korea) since May 2012, he previously occupied a series of senior administrative
posts within parishes and seminaries across South Korea.
Riccardo Ezzati Andrello,
S.D.B. A member of the Salesians of Don Bosco since 1966, he worked with the Salesian
Society in parishes and educational institutions all over Chile. Previously Metropolitan
Archbishop of Concepción (Chile), he was nominated Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago
(Chile) in December 2010.
Philippe Nakellentuba Ouedraogo Previously a member
of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, he was nominated Metropolitan
Archbishop of Ouadraogo (Burkina Faso) by Pope Benedict XVI in May 2009.
Orlando
Quevedo, O.M.I. Already a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate,
he graduated in Pedagogy from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila (Philippines).
He was appointed first Bishop of Kidapawan (Philippines) when the diocese was created
in November 1982, and nominated Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotabato (Philippines)
by Pope John Paul II in 1998.
Chibly Langlois Nominated Bishop of Les Cayes
(Haiti) by Pope Benedict XVI in August 2011, he was previously professor of Pastoral
Theology at the Grand Séminaire Notre-Dame in Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and professor
at the Diocesan Institute for Human Education and Promotion in Jacmel (Haiti).
Loris
Francesco Capovilla A qualified journalist and former editor of a diocesan weekly
magazine in Venice (Italy), he was secretary to Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, later Pope
John XXIII, first in Venice and then in the Vatican. He was Pontifical Delegate for
the Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto (Italy) from 1971 until his retirement in 1988.
At 98 years old, he is the third oldest archbishop in the world and will be the oldest
member of the College of Cardinals.
Sebastian Aguilar, C.M.F. A member
of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and previously Bishop of León
(Spain), he is Archbishop Emeritus of Pamplona (Spain), where he served from 1993
until his retirement in 2007.
Kelvin Edward Felix Having graduated as Doctor
of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Bradford (UK) in 1970, he was professor
of Sociology at the University of the West Indies at Saint Augustine (Trinidad and
Tobago) for many years. Previously President of the Caribbean Conference of Churches,
President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference, member of the Pontifical Council for
the Family and member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, he is
Archbishop Emeritus of Castries (Saint Lucia), where he led the diocese from his appointment
in 1981 until his retirement in 2008.