On Saturday, Pope Francis consecrated 20 cardinals from different parts of the world, selecting individuals who mostly share his goals for a more modern and inclusive Church and influencing their decision over his future successor.
Francis, 85, presided at a rite called a consistory and urged the newly elected cardinals to care about the common people despite their exalted position that will put them in contact with the wealthy and powerful of the world.
The event was the eighth time Francis has used a new intake of cardinals to make his mark on the Church’s future. These individuals will act as his top advisers and administrators at the Vatican and all throughout the world.
After he passes away or resigns, those under 80 can participate in a conclave to choose a new pope from among themselves, which includes 16 of the 20 newcomers.
They are from the United Kingdom, South Korea, Spain, France, Brazil, India, East Timor, Italy, Ghana, Singapore, Paraguay, and Colombia, among other countries.
“A Cardinal loves the Church, always with that same spiritual fire, whether dealing with great questions or handling everyday problems, with the powerful of this world or those ordinary people who are great in God’s eyes,” Francis said.
Francis urged them to think of “poor families, migrant and homeless persons” as they sat before the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Strongly reading his homily, he frequently deviated from the script and even cracked a joke about a priest in Rome who was so familiar with his parishioners’ identities that he also knew the names of their pets.
Pope Francis, who was elected in 2013, has already selected 83 out of 132 cardinal electors, or around 63%.
Francis has maintained what one diplomat has referred to as a “tilt towards Asia” with each consistory, raising the possibility that the next pope might originate from the area that is a rising economic and political powerhouse.
The 85-year-old pontiff told Reuters in an interview last month that if he does resign in the future for health reasons – instead of dying in office – he has no plans to do so anytime soon. This means he could name even more cardinals as soon as next year
