Pope Francis announced his intention to promote 21 individuals within the Church to the esteemed position of cardinal including a Malaysian.
The Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang, Right Reverend Sebastian Francis was announced as Malaysia’s second Roman Catholic cardinal yesterday.
During his noon prayer in St. Peter’s Square, 86-year-old Pope Francis disclosed that the investiture, known as a consistory, is scheduled to take place on September 30.
This will mark the ninth consistory convened by Pope Francis since his election as the first Latin American pope a decade ago.
Cardinal-elect Sebastian Francis is the second bishop to be appointed – in 2016, Anthony Soter Fernandez was the first Malaysian to be made a cardinal. Fernandez was also a bishop of Penang.
The newly appointed cardinals hail from various countries, including the United States, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Portugal.
Among them, 18 of the 21 are below the age of 80, granting them the privilege to participate in a potential secret conclave responsible for electing the next pope. These individuals are referred to as cardinal electors.
Pope Francis has also made it more likely that the next pope will emerge from Asia or Africa, as he has consistently chosen cardinal electors from these continents while placing less emphasis on European nations compared to his predecessor.
The number of additional cardinals that Pope Francis will appoint remains uncertain and will depend on his lifespan.
Cardinals hold the second-highest position in the Church hierarchy and act as the pope’s closest advisors.
Although historically known as the princes of the Church due to their influence and authority, Pope Francis has urged them not to adopt a regal lifestyle and to remain connected to the impoverished.
