(ANSA) - VATICAN CITY, OCT 26 - Washington DC Archbishop
Wilton Gregory is to become the first Afro-American cardinal in
the history of the Catholic Church.
Gregroy, who turns 73 on December 7, will be among 13 new
'princes of the church' created at a consistory on November 28,
the Vatican said Sunday.
Gregory was named to head the Washington diocese last year,
replacing Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who was accused of mishandling
sex abuse cases.
The other new cardinals include archbishops from Brunei, Rwanda
and the Philippines.
Nine of the new cardinals are under the age of 80 and thus
eligible to vote for Pope Francis' successor.
Two of the new Cardinals work in the Roman Curia: the Secretary
General of the Synod of Bishops, Maltese Mario Grech and the
Italian Marcello Semeraro, former Bishop of Albano and the new
Prefect for the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, Vatican
News said.
Six other pastors in the Church throughout the world are joining
them: the Archbishop of Kigali, Rwanda, Antoine Kambanda; the
Archbishop of Washington, United States, Wilton Gregory; the
Archbishop of Capiz, in the Philippines, Jose Fuerte Advincula;
the Archbishop of Santiago, Chile, Celestino Aós Braco; the
Apostolic Vicar of Brunei, Cornelius Sim; the Archbishop of
Siena, Italia, Augusto Paolo Lojudice.
In addition, the Pope has also appointed the current Guardian of
the Franciscan Sacro Convento in Assisi, Mauro Gambetti.
To these Cardinals who are younger than 80 years of age, Pope
Francis has also added four other Cardinals who are older than
80. They are: Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, Archbishop Emeritus of
San Cristóbal de Las Casas (Mexico); former Apostolic Nuncio
Silvano Tomasi, former permanent observer at the United Nations
in Geneva who then worked in the Dicastery for Promoting
Integral Human Development; Capuchin Father Raniero
Cantalamessa, preacher of the Papal Household; and the pastor of
the Shrine of Divine Love, Father Enrico Feroci.
Cardinals wear the colour red which indicates their willingness
to sacrifice themselves usque ad sanguinis effusionem, that is,
to the point of sheding their own blood, in the service of the
Successor of Peter, and even though they reside in the remostest
regions of the world, they become the titular of a parish in the
Eternal City so that they are incardinated in the Church of
which the Pope is Bishop. (ANSA).
Pope to name first Afro-American cardinal
Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory among 13 to be named Nov 28