Meet the New Cardinals of the Catholic Church: Guardians of Faith and Hope

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On May 29th, 2022, Pope Francis announced the creation of 21 new cardinals, who will join the College of Cardinals and assist in the governance of the Catholic Church. These individuals, hailing from diverse backgrounds, are recognized for their extraordinary service and contributions to the faith.

Role of Cardinals in the Catholic Church

Cardinals are senior members of the Roman Catholic Church, appointed by the Pope. Their primary responsibilities include:

Electing the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church
Advising the Pope on matters of doctrine and Church governance
Representing the Pope and the Church in various capacities

Meet the New Cardinals

The new cardinals come from 15 different countries, spanning all continents. Here is a brief overview of each cardinal:

Africa

Peter Ebere Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia, Nigeria
Richard Kuuia Baawobr, Bishop of Wa, Ghana
Robert Daniel Zuñiga Martínez, Archbishop of Concepción, Chile

Asia

Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, India
Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Damão, India
Paulo Cézar Costa, Archbishop of Brasília, Brazil
Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, Timor-Leste

Europe

Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Lazarus You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy
Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, France
Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali, Rwanda
Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, Archbishop of Manaus, Brazil
Giorgio Marengo, Prefect of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore
Adalberto Martínez Flores, Archbishop of Asunción, Paraguay

North America

Robert W. McElroy, Bishop of San Diego, USA
Oscar Cantoni, Archbishop of Como, Italy

Oceania

George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, India
Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches

Significance of the New Cardinals

The creation of new cardinals is a significant event for the Catholic Church. These individuals will play a vital role in shaping the future of the Church, providing guidance and support to the Pope and contributing their insights to the governance of the global Catholic community.

Conclusion

The 21 new cardinals are a testament to the diversity and vitality of the Catholic Church worldwide. They bring with them a wealth of experience, wisdom, and dedication, and will serve as pillars of the Church for years to come. Let us pray for their guidance and support as they embark on this important chapter in their lives and in the history of the Catholic Church.

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Author: Patrick Shell

Admin of holycompass.com.