Pope Francis Named 21 New Cardinals Sunday, Most Of Them From Continents Other Than Europe;2 Cardinals From India

 VATICAN: Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, most of them from continents other than Europe — which dominated Catholic hierarchy for most of the church's history — and further putting his mark on the group of people who might someday elect the next pontiff.

Sixteen of those who will receive the prestigious red cardinal's hat from Francis in a consistory ceremony at the Vatican on Aug. 27 are younger than 80 and thus would be eligible to vote for his successor if a conclave — in which pontiffs are secretly elected — were to be held.

Pope Francis on Sunday elevated two archbishops from India to the high rank of Cardinals.

During today’s Regina Caeli, Solemnity of the Ascension, the Holy Father Francis announced a Consistory for the creation of 21 new Cardinals. Of these, two are from India – His Excellencies Monsignor Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão – Archbishop of Goa and Damão and Monsignor Anthony Poola – Archbishop of Hyderabad.

Monsignor Anthony Poola will be country’s first Dalit cardinal.

“A meeting of all the Cardinals will be held on Monday and Tuesday 29 and 30 August to reflect on the new Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium ; and on Saturday 27 August I will hold a consistory for the creation of new cardinals,” the Holy Father said.

Accordingly, India will now have five Cardinals: George Allencherry from Ernakulam, Oswald Gracias from Mumbai, Telespnore Placidus Toppo from Ranchi, Poola Anthony from Hyderabad and Philip Neri from Goa.

HE Msgr. Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão – Archbishop of Goa and Damão

He was born on January 20, 1953 in Aldona, Goa. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology in the seminary of Poona.

He then obtained a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University (1988) and a Licentiate in Catechetics and Pastoral Theology from the International Institute Lumen Vitae (Brussels – 1991).

He received his priestly ordination on October 28, 1979.

During his priestly ministry he held various positions: Parish Vicar in Salvador do Mundo (1979) in Chinchinim (1981-84); Prefect and teacher of the Minor Seminary of Our Lady in Saligao-Pilerne (1984-1986). Diocesan Director of the Center for the Apostolate of the Laity (1991-1994); Ecclesiastical Advisor to the St. Luke’s Medical Guild (1993-1994); Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Goa.

On 25 January 1994 he was appointed titular bishop of Vanariona and auxiliary bishop of Goa and Damão.

Within the Episcopal Conference he held various positions: President of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (1995); President of the Commission for the Laity (1998-2002).

On January 16, 2004, John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Goa and Damão with the title of honorary Patriarch of the East Indies.

HE Msgr. Anthony Poola – Archbishop of Hyderabad

He was born on November 15, 1961 in Poluru, in the Diocese of Kurnool. After attending the Minor Seminary in Nuzvid, he studied at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore.

He received priestly ordination on February 20, 1992 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Cuddapah.

After his priestly ordination he held the following positions: 1992-1993: parish vicar in St. Mary’s Cathedral ; 1993-1994: parish vicar in Amagampalli; 1994-2001: Pastor in various parishes: 1994-1995 in Tekurpet; 1995-2000 in Badvel; 2000-2001 in Veerapalli; 2001-2003: Studies for the achievement of a Masters in Health Pastoral Care and course in Theology ( Loyola University, Chicago) in the United States; Pastoral service at St. Genevieve Church , in the Archdiocese of Chicago, USA.

From 2004 to 2008 he was Director of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.

He was also Diocesan Consultor, Secretary for Education, Deputy Administrator of the Schools of the Diocese of Cuddapah and Coordinator of the Sponsorship Program.

On February 8, 2008 he was appointed bishop of Kurnool

On November 19, 2020, the Holy Father Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad (India).

Reacting to the development, Fr. Victor Emmanuel T, Procurator and Chancellor Archdiocese of Hyderabad said, “It is a proud moment for the Archdiocese of Hyderabad and to Telugu States to hear the News that Most Rev Dr. Poola Anthony has been chosen as Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican today. On behalf of all the Clergy, Religious and the Faithful, we congratulate His Eminence Most Rev. Dr. Poola Anthony and assure him of our Prayers.”

Francis read out the names of his choices after delivering traditional Sunday remarks from an open window of the Apostolic Palace to the public in St. Peter's Square.

Among those tapped by the pontiff for elevation will be two prelates from India and one each from Ghana, Nigeria, Singapore, East Timor, Paraguay, and Brazil, in keeping with Francis' determination to have church leaders reflect the global face of the Catholic church.

With church growth largely stagnant or at best sluggish in much of Europe and North America, the Vatican has been attentive to its flock in developing countries, including Africa, where the number of faithful has been growing in recent decades. Only one new cardinal was named from the United States: Robert Walter McElroy, bishop of San Diego, California.

This is the eighth batch of cardinals that Francis has named since becoming pontiff in 2013. A sizable majority of those who are eligible to vote in a conclave were appointed by him, increasing the likelihood that they will choose as his successor someone who shares his papacy's priorities, including attention to those living on society's margins and to environmental crises.

A total of 131 cardinals would be young enough to elect a pope once the new batch are included, while the number of cardinals too old to vote will rise to 96.

Pontiffs traditionally have chosen their closest advisers and collaborators at the Vatican from among the ranks of cardinals, who have been dubbed the "princes of the church."

These are the churchmen named by Francis:

— Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, France; Peter Okpaleke, bishop of Ekwulobia, Nigeria; Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, archbishop of Manaus, Brazil; Filipe Neri Antonio Sebastao di Rosario Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Damao, India; Robert Walter McElroy, bishop of San Diego, California; Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, archbishop of Dili, East Timor; Oscar Cantoni, bishop of Como, Italy; Anthony Poola. archbishop of Hyderabad, India; Paulo Cezar Costa, archbishop of Brasilia, Brazil; Richard Kuuia Baawobr, bishop of Wa, Ghana; William Goh Seng Chye, archbishop of Singapore; Adalberto Martinez Flores, archbishop of Asuncion, Paraguay; and Giorgio Marengo, apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

In addition to those churchmen, also under 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave are three prelates who work at the Vatican: Arthur Roche of Britain, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments; Lazzarro You Heung-sik of South Korea, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy; and Fernando Vergez Alzaga of Spain, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and president of the Vatican City State's Governorate.

Following are the 21 new Cardinals:

1. HE Mons. Arthur Roche – Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
2. HE Mons. Lazzaro You Heung-sik – Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.
3. HE Mons. Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, LC , – President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State.
4. HE Mons. Jean-Marc Aveline – Metropolitan Archbishop of Marseille (France).
5. HE Mons. Peter Ebere Okpaleke – Bishop of Ekwulobia (Nigeria).
6. HE Mons. Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, OFM , – Metropolitan Archbishop of Manaus (Brazil).
7. HE Msgr.Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão – Archbishop of Goa and Damão (India).
8. HE Msgr.Robert Walter McElroy – Bishop of San Diego (USA)
9. HE Mons. Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, SDB , – Archbishop of Díli (East Timor).
10. HE Mons. Oscar Cantoni – Bishop of Como (Italy).
11. HE Mons. Anthony Poola – Archbishop of Hyderabad (India).
12. HE Mons. Paulo Cezar Costa – Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Brasília (Brazil).
13. HE Msgr.Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M. Afr. , – Bishop of Wa (Ghana).
14. HE Mons. William Seng Chye Goh – Archbishop of Singapore (Singapore).
15. HE Mons. Adalberto Martínez Flores – Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay).
16. HE Mons. Giorgio Marengo, IMC , – Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).

Together with them, the following will also join the members of the College of Cardinals:

1. HE Msgr.Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal – Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena (Colombia).
2. HE Mons. Lucas Van Looy, SDB , – Archbishop Emeritus of Ghent (Belgium).
3. HE Mons. Arrigo Miglio – Archbishop Emeritus of Cagliari (Italy).
4. Rev.do Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SI , – former Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University.
5. Rev. Mons.Fortunato Frezza – Canon of St. Peter.

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