Pope Francis on Wednesday
created five new cardinals, raising the number of these 'princes
of the Church' to 225 including 121 cardinal electors who can
vote for a new pope.
After this, his fourth consistory, Francis has created 60
'porporati' including 49 electors.
Handing over their berettas and rings, the pope told the new
cardinals that "your realities are victims, cast-offs, refugees"
and warned them not to get "distracted by other interests".
The five new Cardinals are: Jean Zerbo, Archbishop of Bamako,
Mali; Juan José Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain; Anders
Arborelius, Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden; Luis Marie-Ling
Mangkhanekhoun, Apostolic Vicar of Paksé, Laos; and Gregorio
Rosa Chávez, Bishop of Mulli, Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of
San Salvador, El Savador.
The pope focused on the mission of service to which the new
Cardinals are called.
"Jesus calls you to serve like him and with him," Francis
said, "to serve the Father and your brothers and sisters."
The pope went on to say, "He calls you to face as he did the
sin of the world and its effects on today's humanity."
Pope Francis went on to exhort the cardinals, whose red garb
represents the blood they are willing to shed in dying for the
Church: "Follow him, and walk ahead of the holy people of God,
with your gaze fixed on the Lord's cross and resurrection."
The consistory took place on the eve of the feast of Sts.
Peter and Paul, martyrs and patrons of the Church.
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