Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Pope Francis has announced plans to convene a consistory to appoint 21 new cardinals from around the world, including Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM, from Bogor, Indonesia. Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur’s elevation to cardinal will make him the first cardinal from Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and the fourth Indonesian cardinal in history.
According to Vatican News, the consistory, an assembly of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, will be held on December 8, 2024, at the Vatican.
The Pope made the announcement following his Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 6, at the Vatican. He stated that the consistory for the creation of new cardinals will coincide with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The event, which will bring together representatives from around the globe, is set to occur before the opening of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope and after the conclusion of the Second Session of the Synod on Synodality.
Pope Francis emphasized that the selected cardinals come from diverse parts of the world, reinforcing the universality of the Roman Catholic Church.
“Their origins reveal the universality of the Church, which continues to proclaim God’s merciful love to all people on Earth. Their participation in the Diocese of Rome also reflects the inseparable bond between the See of Peter and the particular churches spread throughout the world,” said the Pope.
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Pope Francis called upon the faithful to pray for the newly appointed cardinals, saying, “Let us pray for the new cardinals, that in confirming their fidelity to Christ, the compassionate and faithful High Priest, they may assist me in my service as Bishop of Rome, for the good of all God’s holy people.”
With this upcoming consistory, the College of Cardinals will expand to 256 members, with 141 cardinal electors, those eligible to vote in future papal elections.
New Appointed Cardinals
In the Roman Catholic Church, cardinals are entrusted with key responsibilities, such as advising the Pope, participating in councils, and overseeing the governance of the global Church. They also play a crucial role in electing the Pope when the Holy See is vacant.
Here is the full list of the 21 new cardinals to be elevated in the December consistory:
- H.E. Archbishop Angelo Acerbi, Apostolic Nuncio
- H.E. Archbishop Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio, Archbishop of Lima (Peru)
- H.E. Archbishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic, C.M., Archbishop of Santiago del Estero (Argentina)
- H.E. Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M., Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador)
- H.E. Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile (Chile)
- H.E. Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D., Archbishop of Tokyo (Japan)
- H.E. Archbishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, Bishop of Kalookan (Philippines)
- H.E. Archbishop Ladislav Nemet, S.V.D., Archbishop of Belgrade-Smederevo (Serbia)
- H.E. Archbishop Jaime Spengler, O.F.M., Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil)
- H.E. Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop of Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
- H.E. Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco, O.P., Archbishop of Algiers (Algeria)
- H.E. Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, O.F.M., Bishop of Bogor (Indonesia)
- H.E. Archbishop Dominique Joseph Mathieu, O.F.M. Conv., Archbishop of Tehran Isfahan (Iran)
- H.E. Archbishop Roberto Repole, Archbishop of Turin (Italy)
- H.E. Auxiliary Bishop Baldassare Reina, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome
- H.E. Archbishop Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto (Canada)
- H.E. Monsignor Rolandas Makrickas, Coadjutor Canon of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major
- H.E. Bishop Mykola Bychok, C.S.R., Bishop of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne of the Ukrainians
- Rev. Timothy Peter Joseph Radcliffe, O.P., theologian
- Rev. Fabio Baggio, C.S., Under-Secretary for the Department for the Service of Integral Human Development
- H.E. Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad, official of the Secretariat of State
This consistory is expected to further emphasize the global nature of the Church, reflecting Pope Francis’ ongoing commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the ranks of the Roman Catholic leadership.
