M
markomalley
Guest
Mario Tosatti in La Stampa reports:
There is a rumour in the Vatican of a new consistory to appoint cardinals; some believe this consistory will be called by the end of the year, some think it will take place at the beginning of 2013, a year after the last one (last February). In truth Benedict XVI is more likely to call a consistory towards the end of the Year of the Faith, which he established with the ‘motu proprio data’, “Porta Fidei” ( Door of Faith). The Year of the Faith will begin on the 11th of October 2012 and end on the 24th of November 2013; at that point, the presence of many bishops and cardinals in Rome for the closing ceremonies might mark the right time for the appointment of new cardinals.
Currently the College of Cardinals includes 123 voters, this number will drop to 114 by the end of 2012 and furthermore to 104 by the end of 2013. Since the law forbids men over eighty to actively be part of a Conclave, Benedict XVI has felt the need to keep the College of Cardinals well “stocked” and ready to deal with an eventuality that everyone hopes is still far away, but which cannot be discarded due to the pope’s age (85 in April). Truth be told, the most recent consistory has driven Benedict XVI to exceed by five people the upper limit of 120 voting members in the College, number that had been established by Paul VI and confirmed by John Paul II. By August however things will go back to normal.
Likely the only change I could foresee would be to elevate Archbishop Lori (of Baltimore). Since Cardinal O’Brien has been moved full-time to the Equestrian Order, there are no Cardinal-Electors from Baltimore at this time. Cardinal Rigali would only be 77-78 next year, so I can’t see Archbishop Chaput being given a red hat…
There is a rumour in the Vatican of a new consistory to appoint cardinals; some believe this consistory will be called by the end of the year, some think it will take place at the beginning of 2013, a year after the last one (last February). In truth Benedict XVI is more likely to call a consistory towards the end of the Year of the Faith, which he established with the ‘motu proprio data’, “Porta Fidei” ( Door of Faith). The Year of the Faith will begin on the 11th of October 2012 and end on the 24th of November 2013; at that point, the presence of many bishops and cardinals in Rome for the closing ceremonies might mark the right time for the appointment of new cardinals.
Currently the College of Cardinals includes 123 voters, this number will drop to 114 by the end of 2012 and furthermore to 104 by the end of 2013. Since the law forbids men over eighty to actively be part of a Conclave, Benedict XVI has felt the need to keep the College of Cardinals well “stocked” and ready to deal with an eventuality that everyone hopes is still far away, but which cannot be discarded due to the pope’s age (85 in April). Truth be told, the most recent consistory has driven Benedict XVI to exceed by five people the upper limit of 120 voting members in the College, number that had been established by Paul VI and confirmed by John Paul II. By August however things will go back to normal.
Likely the only change I could foresee would be to elevate Archbishop Lori (of Baltimore). Since Cardinal O’Brien has been moved full-time to the Equestrian Order, there are no Cardinal-Electors from Baltimore at this time. Cardinal Rigali would only be 77-78 next year, so I can’t see Archbishop Chaput being given a red hat…
