VATICAN CITY (Zenit): Pope John Paul II named 30 new cardinals on September 28, including seven officials in the Roman Curia, and announced they would get their red hats at a consistory on October 21.
The Pope also announced a 31st cardinal “in pectore” (close to his heart) whose name he is not yet making public.
Nineteen of the cardinals-to-be are archbishops of major episcopal sees, including Archbishop George Pell of Sydney. Four are priests whom the Pope is acknowledging for their service to the Church.
Looking better than he has in recent days, but speaking in a weak voice, Pope John Paul read the list of future cardinals from the window of his library before praying the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square.
Among the new cardinals are archbishops from around the world – the United States (1), Canada (1), Australia (1), Scotland (1), Mexico (1), India (1), Brazil (1), Guatemala (1), Spain (2), Nigeria (1), France (3), Sudan (1), Ghana (1), Croatia (1), Vietnam (1), Hungary (1), Japan (1) and Italy (6).
“All together, with the multiplicity of their services, they reflect the universality of the Church,” the Pope said.
The consistory will take place two days after the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and a few days after the Pope’s 25th anniversary.
John Paul II also named as cardinals four priests who have been outstanding in their service to the Church.
They are Swiss-born Dominican Father Georges Cottier, papal household theologian; Msgr Gustaaf Joos, canon of the Diocese of Gand, Belgium; Jesuit Father Thomas Spidlik of the Czech Republic; and Fr Stanislas Nagy, of the priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of Poland.
