Pope appoints 19 new cardinals as members of Vatican dicasteries
(April 21.2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday nominated 19 of the 22 new cardinals
he created on Feb. 18th, to various offices and departments in the central
government of the Catholic Church in the Vatican. Among them are two Asians: Indian
Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly and Chinese
Cardinal John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong. Cardinal Alencherry who is the head
of Kerala-based eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, has been nominated member
of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith as well as the Congregation for the
Oriental Churches. Cardinal Tong has been made a member of the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Three of the latest batch of cardinals who are above 80-years of age have not been
given responsibilities.