Pope Francis has named 21 new cardinals, increasing the size of the College of Cardinals from 114 to 142 cardinals.
Among the new cardinals is Bishop Mykola Bychok, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia, a nod to Ukraine amidst the ongoing war with Russia. Bychok, at 44, is the youngest nominee and Ukraine’s only cardinal.
Ukraine is traditionally part of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and since parting ways with Russia seems to be increasingly embracing Roman Catholicism.
The new cardinals will receive their red hats on December 8, marking Pope Francis’ 10th consistory. This move brings the total number of cardinal electors to 142, exceeding the usual limit of 120 voting-age cardinals.
Other Appointees, By Continent
South America: Archbishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic of Argentina, Archbishop Jaime Spengler of Brazil, Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib of Chile, Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera of Ecuador, and Archbishop Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio of Peru.
Asia: Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, Bishop Pablo Virgilio Sinogco David of the Philippines, and Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukor of Indonesia.
Africa: Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo of Abidjan and Bishop Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers.
“Francis has again continued to extend the reach of the College of Cardinals,” says church historian Christopher Bellitto. “He’s making sure Catholic leaders from the church’s edges have a voice at the big table“.
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