(Vatican Radio) The names of Pope Francis’ nineteen cardinals designate were announced
after last Sunday’s Angelus for the world to hear. But who are the men behind the
names? The new cardinals will come from all corners of the globe and from an incredibly
diverse range of ministries – we took a look at this exciting list and summarized
the highlights.
On February 22nd
2014, the Feast of the Chair of Peter, Pope Francis will create sixteen new cardinals:
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 MÜLLER 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 JOSÉ BRENES SOLÓRZANO 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.
GÉRALD 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 JOÃO 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.
GUALTIERO 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).
At the same time, Pope
Francis will join to the members of the College of Cardinals three Archbishops Emeriti,
distinguished for their service to the Holy See and to the Church:
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.
SEBASTIÁN 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.