Pope Francis has appointed 21 new cardinals in an effort to reform the Catholic Church, placing a strong emphasis on diversity just days before a meeting where he will outline plans for the future of the church and address controversial issues such as LGBTQ+ followers, women's roles, and celibacy.
The induction ceremony for the new "princes of the church," which included Chicago-born Robert Prevost, took place on Saturday in St. Peter's Square. In his instructions to the new cardinals, Pope Francis compared their diversity and geographic representation to musicians in an orchestra, highlighting the importance of each individual contributing to the collective vision. He stressed the need for mutual listening among the cardinals, emphasizing that each musician must listen to others.
During the ceremony, each new cardinal took an oath to obey the pope, remain faithful to Christ, and serve the church. Pope Francis reminded them that the red color of their robes symbolized the need for strength, even to the point of shedding blood, in spreading the faith.
The newly appointed cardinals come from various countries, including the United States, France, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Portugal. This diverse representation reflects Pope Francis' commitment to inclusivity within the church.
However, the appointment of Victor Manuel Fernandez, the new head of the Vatican's doctrine office, has sparked controversy. Fernandez, known as the "pope's theologian," admitted to mishandling a 2019 case involving a priest accused of sexually abusing minors in Argentina when he was a bishop. A survivor of clergy abuse called on Pope Francis to rescind Fernandez's nomination, stating that someone who has covered up such crimes should not be overseeing the investigation and prosecution of clergy sex offenders.
In response to the controversy, Pope Francis clarified that Fernandez would not be involved in sexual assault cases as a cardinal. When appointing him as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the pope expressed his desire for a radical departure from the past, criticizing the former Holy Office for using "immoral methods" to enforce its will.
Another newly appointed cardinal, Robert Prevost, has also faced criticism. During his time as Augustinian superior in the US, Prevost allowed a sexual abuser, Fr. James Ray, to reside near a Catholic elementary school in 2000. Prevost's promotion, along with that of French Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the pope's ambassador in Washington, DC, indicates that Pope Francis is seeking to shift the balance of power in the US, where conservative bishops have been vocal critics of his reforms. Prevost and Pierre will be responsible for nominating new bishops and overseeing investigations into current ones.
Pope Francis will host a synod from October 4 to 29 to discuss women's roles in the church, the LGBTQ+ community, and priestly celibacy with bishops and lay members. This synod will be followed by another next year. Several of the newly appointed cardinals will be voting members of the synod and have expressed their support for Pope Francis' vision for the church.
With almost 100 of the 137 cardinals being under the age of 80, they will be eligible to vote on the pope's successor. Europe has the highest number of voting-age cardinals with 52, followed by the Americas with 39 and Asia with 24. This distribution of cardinals reflects the global nature of the Catholic Church and the diversity of its leadership.
Pope Francis' appointment of new cardinals, with a focus on diversity and geographic representation, demonstrates his commitment to reforming the Catholic Church.
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