Catholic Fire

Following his Angelus address on January 12, Pope Francis announced the names of 19 prelates who will become cardinals in the consistory of February 22, the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle. Four of the new cardinals are currently serving in senior positions on the Roman Curia, and 12 are residential bishops. Pope Francis also announced that he would honor three prelates by raising them to the College of Cardinals in recognition of their outstanding service to the Church, although they are above the age of 80 and therefore ineligible to participate in a papal conclave. The new curial cardinals will be: Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Archbishop Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy The new cardinals who govern dioceses will be Archbishop Vincent Nichols of We...

(Vatican Radio) The Holy See Press Office has confirmed a Consistory to create new Cardinals will be held next February. Pope Francis had informed both the Council of Cardinals and the Council of the Synod of his intention earlier this month, according to statement issued by Rev. Federico Lombardi, SJ, the head of the Press Office. The Consistory will be on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22, 2014. Pope Francis decided to make the date known so that other meetings could be planned which involve Cardinals from around the world. Father Lombardi said a Meeting of the Cardinals could be expected to happen before the Consistory, as has been customary with his predecessors. Prior to this meeting, will be the third meeting of the 8-member Council of Cardinals, while a meeting of the Council of the Synod will start two days after the Consistory. Father Lombardi said a meeting of the 15 Member Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of th...