During the Angelus that followed the celebration of this morning's Mass, celebrated in Saint Peter's Square to mark the Marian Jubilee, the Holy Father, Pope Francis announced a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals.
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, 19 November, at the vigil of the closure of the Holy Door of Mercy, I will hold a Consistory for the naming of 13 new Cardinals chosen from the five continents. The fact that they come from 11 countries expresses the universality of the Church that proclaims and bears witness to the Good News of the Mercy of God in every corner of the earth. Adding these new Cardinals to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome also demonstrates the insoluble bond between the See of Peter and the various particular Churches spread throughout the world.
On Sunday, November 20, the Solemnity of Christ the King, at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy, I will celebrate Mass with the new Cardinals, along with the other members of the College of Cardinals, the Archbishops, Bishops and priests.
Here are the names of the new Cardinals:
1. His Excellency, Mario Zenari, who remains the Apostolic Nuncio in the beloved and martyred land of Syria (born in Italy);
2. His Excellency, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic);
3. His Excellency, Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop of Madrid (Spain);
4. His Excellency, Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of Brasilia (Brasil);
5. His Excellency, Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (USA);
6. His Excellency, Patrick D'Rozario, C.S.C., Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh);
7. His Excellency, Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop of Mérida (Venezuela);
8. His Excellency, Jozef De Kesel, Archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles (Belgium);
9. His Excellency, Maurice Piat, Archbishop of Port-Louis (Mauritius);
10. His Excellency, Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life (USA);
11. His Excellency, Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla (Mexico);
12. His Excellency, John Ribat, M.S.C., Archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea);
13. His Excellency, Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Indianapolis (USA).
To the members of the College of Cardinals will also be added two other Archbishops and one emeritus Bishop who have been distinguished by their pastoral service and by being priests who have demonstrated committed Christian witness. They represent many bishops and priests who throughout the Church edify the people of God, proclaiming the merciful love of God demonstrated in the daily care of the Lord's flock and in the confession of faith.
They are:
1. His Excellency, Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop emeritus di Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia);
2. His Excellency, Renato Corti, Bishop emeritus of Novara (Italy);
3. His Excellency, Sebastian Koto Khoarai, OMI, Bishop emeritus of Mohale's Hoek (Losetho); and
4. Reverend Ernest Simoni, a priest of the Archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult (Scutari – Albania).
Let us pray for these new Cardinals, that, confirming their commitment to Christ, the merciful and faithful High Priest (cf Heb 2:17), they may help me in my ministry as Bishop of Rome and as principal, perpetual and visible foundation of unity in faith and in communion (cf Lumen Gentium, 18).
(Original text in Italian)
His Excellency, Mario Zenari (Italy), Titular Archbishop of Zuglio, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, was born in Villafranca (Verona) on 5 January 1946. He was ordained a priest on 5 July 1970 and incardinated in the Diocese of Verona. He holds a Licence in Canon Law.
Having entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1980, he has been entrusted with duties proper to the Pontifical Representations in Senegal, Liberia, Columbia, Germany and Romania. On 25 March 1993, he was named a Nunciature Counsellor.
On 7 February 1994, he was named as Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the International Agency of Atomic Energy (AIEA) and to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the Holy See’s Permanent Observer at the United Nations for Industrial Development (ONUDI) and at the United Nations’ office in Vienna.
On 12 July 1999, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II named him Apostolic Nuncio in the Ivory Coast and in Niger, elevating him at the same time to the titular See of Zuglio, with the dignity of Archbishop. A few days later, on 24 July, he was named Nuncio also in Burkina Faso. He received Episcopal consecration on 25 September of that same year.
On 10 May 2004, he was named Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka, and on 30 December 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Apostolic Nuncio in Syria.
His Excellency, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic) was born on 14 March 1967 in Mbomou, in the Diocese of Bangassou (Central African Republic). After primary school, he entered Saint Louis Minor Seminary in Bangassou and then Holy Apostles Major Seminary in Otélé (Cameroon) where he completed Philosophy studies before continuing studies in Theology at the Daniel Brottier Spiritan Major Seminary in Libreville (Gabon).
Having taken first vows in the Congregation of Spiritan Fathers on 8 September 1993 and perpetual vows on 6 September 1997, he was ordained a priest on 9 August 1998. During the succeeding years, he obtained a Licence in Theology at the Sèvres Jesuit Centre in France, but was then recalled to the Central African Republic, to his Institute in order to serve as Regional Superior.
While in France, from 1998 to 2005, he served as Chaplain to the orphans at the Auteuil Foundation and as parochial vicar at Saint Jérôme (Marseille); returning to the Central African Republic, he served as Regional Superior of the Spiritan Fathers and as Pastor in Bangui from 2005 until 2009; during the years 2008-2009 he served as President of the Conference of Major Superiors in Central Africa.
In 2009, he served as Apostolic Administrator of Bangui, and on 14 May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangui. He received episcopal consecration on 22 July of that year.
In July 2013, he was appointed President of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic and in that role, he participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family in October 2014.
In November 2015, he welcomed Pope Francis in his diocese. While in Bangui, Pope Francis opened the first Holy Door of the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy.
Committed personally to the process of peace in his country, in 2013, he participated, along with the President of the Islamic Council and the President of the Evangelical Alliance in Bangui, in the foundation of the inter-religious platform for peace in Central Africa.
He is the first Cardinal from Central Africa.
His Excellency, Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop of Madrid (Spain) was born in Castañeda, in the province and Diocese of Santander on 16 May 1945. After having studied his Master’s degree at the Normal School and having worked as a teacher for one year in Santander, he entered the seminary for adult vocations at the El Salvador Major College in Salamanca, where he completed courses in Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical University in that city, obtaining Licenses in both disciplines. In addition, he obtained a Diploma in Adult Formation from the same Complutense University.
He was ordained a priest on 29 July 1973 in Santander and was incardinated in that same diocese.
After his presbyteral ordination, he was appointed a member of the team of priests in the parish of the Assumption in Torrelavega for youth ministry, Director of the Casa de los muchachos and Professor at the Escuela Universitaria de Formación del Profesorado ‘Sagrados Corazones’ (1973-1975); Secretary General for Diocesan Pastoral activity; Episcopal delegate for vocations and Seminaries and for the lay apostolate and Vicar for Pastoral activity (1975-1996); Vicar General of the diocese (1976-1994); Rector of the diocesan Seminary (1977-1996); President of the Cathedral Chapter (1994-1996), Director of the Centro Asociado del Instituto Internacional de Teología a Distancia and Director of the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Religiosas San Agustín (1996).
On 27 December 1996, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Orense. He received episcopal ordination on 22 February of the following year.
On 7 January 2002, he was promoted to the Metropolitan See of Oviedo. From September 2006 to September 2007, he was also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Santander.
On 8 January 2009, he was transferred by Benedict XVI to the Metropolitan See of Valencia. On 28 August 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Madrid. Beginning in March 2014, he was appointed Vice-president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference within which he had previously served as President of the Clergy Commission (1999-2005) and as President of the Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate and Members of the Executive Committee (2005-2011).
He took part in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: The Vocation and the Mission of the Family in the Church and in the modern-day world (October 2015).
His Excellency, Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of Brasília (Brasil) was born in Dobrada, in the Diocese of Jaboticabal, in the State of São Paulo on 21 October 1959. He attended courses in Philosophy at the Diocesan Seminary of Saint Charles and Theological studies at the Theological Institute in Campinas. He obtained a License in Moral Theology from the Theological Faculty of Nossa Senhora da Assunção in São Paulo and a Doctorate in that same discipline from the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome.
He was ordained a priest on 14 December 1984 in Matão, in the Diocese of São Carlos.
As a priest, he exercised his ministry as: Pastor at Áqua Vermelha and Coordinator of Youth Ministry at São Carlos (1985-1986); Professor of Philosophy at the Diocesan Seminary and Spiritual Director of the House of Theology in Campinas (1986-1987 and 1991); Rector of the Philosophy Seminary in São Carlos (1987-1988 and 1990); Diocesan Coordinator of Vocations (1987 and 1989); Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of São Carlos (1988-1989); Parochial Vicar of the parish of Nossa Senhora de Fátima in São Carlos (1990); Diocesan Coordinator of Pastoral Activities and Rector of the São Judas Tadeua Chapel in São Carlos (1991); Professor of Moral Theology at the PUC in Campinas and Rector of the Diocesan Theological Seminary (1997-2001); Member of the formation team for Permanent Deacons; Member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors.
On 13 June 2001, he was elected Titular Bishop of Alba and named Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza. He received episcopal consecration on 11 August of that same year.
Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Teresina on 31 January 2007, he succeeded to the position of Archbishop of that See on 3 September 2008.
On 15 June 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília
In April 2015, he was elected President of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil and during his tenure, he held many responsibilities including Member of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine; Member of the Episcopal Commission for Mutirão de Superação da Miséria e da Forme; Secretary of his region, entrusted with care for Youth and for Pastoral Vocations in the North-east Region 1; Member of the Permanent Council and of the Commission for Doctrine; President of the North-east Region 1.
He also served as President of the Department for Vocations and Ministries of CELAM – the Latin American Episcopal Council.
He took part in the Syond of Bishops on the family which was held in October 2015.
His Excellency, Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (USA) was born in Omaha (Nebraska) on 19 March 1949. After having attended primary and secondary school, he attended the College of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul (Minnesota), where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1971. From 1971 to 1975, he was a student at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Later, he obtained a License (1979) and a Doctorate (1987) in Sacramental Theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
He was ordained a priest on 16 August 1975 for the Archdiocese of Omaha.
After his presbyteral ordination, he was entrusted with the following responsibilities: Associate pastor of Saint Margaret Mary parish and teacher at Paul VI High School in Omaha (1975-1978); Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Liturgy (1978-1981); Local collaborator at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. (1981-1987); Pastor of Saint Mary’s parish in Bellevue (1987-1989); President/Rector of the Josephinum Pontifical College in Columbus, Ohio (1989-1997); Pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine parish in Omaha (1997-1998).
Appointed Bishop of Rapid City (South Dakota) on 7 July 1998, he received episcopal ordination on 21 September of that year.
On 30 June 2010, he was appointed by Benedict XVI as Bishop of Spokane (Washington) and took canonical possession of that Diocese on 3 September of that year.
On 20 September 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Chicago, a position he began on 18 November of that year.
In October 2015, he participated, by Pontifical appointment, in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family.
He has served as President of the USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People (2008-2011) and as part of the National Catholic Educational Association Board (2006-2008), as well as a Member of numerous committees of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the USA.
He is currently a member of the Congregation for Bishops.
His Excellency, Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh) was born in 1 October 1943 in Padrishibpur, in the Diocese of Chittagong. He is part of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and was ordained a priest on 8 October 1972.
Elected as the first Bishop of Rajshahi on 21 May 1990, he provided for the organization of that new diocese.
On 3 February 1995, he was transferred to the See of Chittagong, the second most important See in the country.
On 25 November 2010, he as named by Pope Benedict XVI as Coadjutor Bishop of Dhaka and succeeded to that Metropolitan See on 22 October 2011.
Since December 2011, he has served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Bangladesh, and in this capacity, he participated at the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in October 2014.
He is the first Bangladeshi Cardinal.
His Excellency, Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop of Mérida (Venezuela) was born on 10 October 1944 in Caracas. After his studies in Philosophy at the Inter-diocesan Seminary in Caracas, he was sent to the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain, where he completed the Licence in Theology in 1966. Subsequently (1977), at the Superior Institute in Pastoral Theology at that same University, he was granted a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology.
He was ordained a priest on 30 July 1967 and served as Cooperative Vicar, Pastor, Diocesan associate for Cursillos, Seminary Professor and at other public and private institutions; as well as Director of the Collegio Nuestra Señora del Rosario and as Professor at the IUT de los Llanos. In Caracas, he served as Vice Rector of the Inter-diocesan Seminary and as Director of Studies (1978-1979); and also as Rector of San José del Hatillo Seminary (1979-1983).
Elected as Titular Bishop of Lamdia and Auxiliary Bishop of Mérida on 30 July 1983, he received episcopal consecration on 17 September of that year.
On 30 October 1991, Pope John Paul II named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Mérida. He took possession of that Archdiocese on 5 December of that year.
From March 1998 to June 1999, he also served as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of San Cristóbal.
He has been entrusted with many responsibilities within the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, including serving as its President for two consecutive mandates from 1999 to 2006, after having served for an extended period as its Vice-President.
He also served as the first Vice-President of CELAM from 2007 to 2011 and is still a Member of the Special Council for America of the Synod of Bishops (a position which he has held since 1997).
His Excellency, Jozef De Kesel, Archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles (Belgium) was born on 17 June 1947 in Gent (East Flanders) in the Diocese of that same name.
He was ordained a priest on 26 August 1972 for the Diocese of Gent.
He obtained the grade of Doctor in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University with the thesis entitled: Le refus décidé de l’objectivation. Une interprétation du Jésus historique dans la théologie chez Rudolf Bultmann. He is the author of numerous articles and of some books on the Church and her various aspects of Christian life. He was a teacher at the Seminary in Gent, in the centre for formation for future professors of religion and at the University of Leuven. He speaks French, Dutch, English and Italian.
Elected to the titular See of Bulna and named Auxiliary Bishop of Malines-Bruxelles on 20 March 2002, he was consecrated on 26 May of that year. From 2002 until 2010, he served as Vicar General for the Vicariate of Bruxelles. In 2010, he received pastoral responsibilities as Vicar General for the Vicariate of Flemish Brabant and the Mechelen area.
On 25 June 2010, he was appointed Bishop of Brugge.
On 6 November 2015, Pope Francis named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel, Malines-Bruxelles (Belgium) and Military Ordinary for Belgium.
Since January 2016, he has been serving as President of the Episcopal Conference of Belgium.
His Excellency, Maurice Piat, Archbishop of Port-Louis (Mauritius) was born in Moka, in the Diocese of Port-Louis, on 19 July 1941. After his secondary Studies at the Collège du Saint-Esprit in Quatre-Bornes, Ile Morice, he entered into the noviciate of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Ireland, where he made his religious profession on 8 September 1962. Obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College in Dublin, he was then admitted to the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome and pursued theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, concluding with a License in Theology in 1972.
He was ordained a priest on 2 August 1970.
At the conclusion of his Theological studies in 1972, he spent three months exercising presbyteral ministry in Bangalore (India). Returning to his country, he was then named professor and catechist at the Collège du Saint-Esprit in Quatre-Bornes. Until 1982, he was also responsible for aspiring seminarians at the Foyer Monseigneur-Murphy in Vacoas. From 1977 to 1979, he lived in Paris where he completed a course at the Institut pour la Formation des Educateurs du Clergé. Called back to Mauritius, he was named Vicar for Sunday services at the parish of Saint-François d’Assise in Pamplemousses (1979-1985), and then Pastor of the parish of Coeur-Immaculé-de-Marie in Rivière-du-Rempart (1986).
In 1981, he was also given responsibility for the Diocesan pastoral project for ecclesial base communities, and was subsequently appointed as Episcopal Vicar for the formation and coordination of Diocesan Pastoral plans. During those years, he contributed to the creation of a Centre for formation in Thabor, Beau-Bassin.
On 21 January 1991, he was named Coadjutor to the then-Bishop of Port-Louis, Cardinal Jean Margéot, and received episcopal consecration on 19 May of that year.
On 15 March 1993, he succeeded to the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Port-Louis.
He served as President of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean (CEDOI) from 1996-2002 and again from 2013 until September of this year (2016).
In 2000, he was made a member of the Permanent Committee of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SCEAM).
In October 2015, he participated in the Synod of Bishops on the Family.
His Excellency, Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life (USA) was born on 2 September 1947 in Dublin (Ireland). After having completed primary and secondary school, he attended the University of Salamanca in Spain, and then the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He obtained a license in Philosophy and in Theology from Saint Thomas University in Rome. He then completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Notre-Dame (USA). Entering into the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966, he was ordained a priest on 24 December 1978.
After his priestly ordination, he served as Chaplain at the University of Monterrey (Mexico), Professor of Economics studies, Administrator General with responsibility for seminarians and schools run by the Legionaries of Christ in Italy, Spain and Ireland. In 1983, he exercised pastoral ministry in the parish of Saint Bartholomew in Bethesda, Washington.
In 1984, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington, where he was entrusted with the following responsibilities: Associate Pastor of the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle (1984-1985); Director of the Spanish Catholic Centre (1986); Executive Regent Director of the Catholic Charitable Organizations (1987-1988); Secretary for Financial Affairs (1989-2001); and Pastor of Annunciation Parish (2000-2002).
Named Titular Bishop of Rusuccuru and Auxiliary of Washington on 28 December 2001, he received episcopal consecration on 11 February of the following year. In 2001 he was entrusted with the offices of Vicar General for Administration and Moderator of the Curia.
On 6 March 2007, he was promoted to Bishop of Dallas.
On 15 August 2016, Pope Francis called him to collaborate in the Roman Curia, naming him Prefect of the newly-formed Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
His Excellency, Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla (Mexico) was born 9 January 1950 in Tepic. He was a student at the Seminary of Tepic and went on to study at the Seminary of Montezuma (USA) and at Tula. He subsequently earned a License in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
He was ordained a priest on 22 April 1973.
As a priest, he served as Parochial Vicar, Rector of the Seminary in Tepic and at the same time as President of the Mexican Organization for Seminaries (OSMEX) and as a Member of the Directive Council of the Latin-American Seminaries. He then served as Rector of the Juan XXIII Residence for priests at the Pontifical University of Mexico and as Professor of Sacred Scripture at that same University.
On 28 May 1997, he was named Bishop of Texcoco and received episcopal ordination on 29 June of that year.
On 5 February 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Tlalnepantla.
From 2006 to 2012, he was President of the Episcopal Conference of Mexico, after having served as Secretary General from 2004 to 2006.
He has been entrusted with various responsibilities by CELAM (the Latin-American Episcopal Conference): Secretary General from 2000 to 2003; First Vice-President from 2003 to 2007 and finally President from 2011 to 2015.
In October 2014, and again in October 2015, Pope Francis called him to participate in the two respective Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops on the Family.
His Excellency, John Ribat, M.S.C., Archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) was born on 9 February 1957 in Volavolo, in the Archdiocese of Rabaul. After having attended elementary school in Naveo and Volavolo, he went on to the Malabunga Government High School in Rabaul. Having completed upper school at the Minor Seminary of Saint Peter Chanel in Ulapia, he entered the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, where he professed first vows on 2 February 1979. He then studied Philosophy and Theology at Holy Spirit Seminary in Bomana and was ordained a priest on 1 December 1985.
After his presbyteral ordination and until 1991, he exercised presbyteral service in various parishes throughout the Diocese of Bereina; he then undertook a formation course at the SAIDI Centre in Manila and from 1992 to 1996, served as Master of Novices. In 1997, he served as Pastor and from 1998 to 2000 as Master of Novices at Suva on the Island of Fiji.
On 30 October 2000, he was elected to the titular Episcopal See of Macriana minore and named Auxiliary of the Diocese of Bereina (Papua New Guinea). He received episcopal ordination on 11 February 2001.
One year afterward, on 11 February 2002, he was named Bishop of Bereina.
On 16 April 2007, Benedict XVI named him Coadjutor Archbishop of Port Moresby and on 26 March 2008, he became Archbishop of that Metropolitan See.
He served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands from 2011 to 2014.
In 2014, he was named President of the Federation of Conferences of Catholic Bishops of Oceania (FCBCO).
He is the first Cardinal from Papua New Guinea.
His Excellency, Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Indianapolis (USA) was born in Detroit (Michigan), in the Archdiocese of that name, on 3 May 1952. Having entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, he professed temporary vows on 5 August 1972 and solemn vows on 21 August 1976. In 1975, he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy at Holy Redeemer College in Waterford (Wisconsin); in 1977, a Master’s degree in Religious Education and in 1979 a Master of Divinity (Pastoral Theology) at Mount Saint Alphonsus Major Seminary in Esopus (New York).
Ordained a priest on 1 June 1978, he served as Associate Pastor (1979-1984) and then as Pastor (1984-1990) at Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit; as Episcopal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Detroit (1980-1986); and as Pastor of Saint Alphonsus Parish in Chicago (1990-1991).
In 1991, he was elected Consultor General for the Redemptorist Fathers and on 9 September 1997 as Superior General. He was reconfirmed in this charge on 26 September 2003. During that same year, he became Vice-President of the Union of Superiors General.
In addition, he was made a Member of the Council for Relations between the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and the International Unions of Superiors General (2001-2009).
Appointed as Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on 2 August 2010, and elevated at that time to the titular See of Obba with the dignity of Archbishop, he received episcopal consecration on 9 October of that year.
On 18 October 2012, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Archbishop of Indianapolis.
His Excellency, Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop emeritus of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) was born on 22 April 1932 in Sungai Patani, in the Diocese of Penang, in a family of Indian origin. He was ordained a priest on 10 December 1966.
On 29 September 1977, he was named Bishop of Penang and received episcopal consecration on 17 February 1978.
On 2 July 1993, he was promoted to Metropolitan Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and on 10 November of that year, he took possession of his new Archdiocese, which he led until 15 April 2003. Since that date, he has been residing at the major seminary in Penand, where he dedicates his energy to the formation of priests as a Spiritual Director.
He served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei for two mandates: from 1987 to 1990 and again from 2000 to 2003.
He is the first Cardinal from Malaysia.
Announcement of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
following the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, 19 November, at the vigil of the closure of the Holy Door of Mercy, I will hold a Consistory for the naming of 13 new Cardinals chosen from the five continents. The fact that they come from 11 countries expresses the universality of the Church that proclaims and bears witness to the Good News of the Mercy of God in every corner of the earth. Adding these new Cardinals to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome also demonstrates the insoluble bond between the See of Peter and the various particular Churches spread throughout the world.
On Sunday, November 20, the Solemnity of Christ the King, at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy, I will celebrate Mass with the new Cardinals, along with the other members of the College of Cardinals, the Archbishops, Bishops and priests.
Here are the names of the new Cardinals:
1. His Excellency, Mario Zenari, who remains the Apostolic Nuncio in the beloved and martyred land of Syria (born in Italy);
2. His Excellency, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic);
3. His Excellency, Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop of Madrid (Spain);
4. His Excellency, Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of Brasilia (Brasil);
5. His Excellency, Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (USA);
6. His Excellency, Patrick D'Rozario, C.S.C., Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh);
7. His Excellency, Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop of Mérida (Venezuela);
8. His Excellency, Jozef De Kesel, Archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles (Belgium);
9. His Excellency, Maurice Piat, Archbishop of Port-Louis (Mauritius);
10. His Excellency, Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life (USA);
11. His Excellency, Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla (Mexico);
12. His Excellency, John Ribat, M.S.C., Archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea);
13. His Excellency, Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Indianapolis (USA).
To the members of the College of Cardinals will also be added two other Archbishops and one emeritus Bishop who have been distinguished by their pastoral service and by being priests who have demonstrated committed Christian witness. They represent many bishops and priests who throughout the Church edify the people of God, proclaiming the merciful love of God demonstrated in the daily care of the Lord's flock and in the confession of faith.
They are:
1. His Excellency, Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop emeritus di Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia);
2. His Excellency, Renato Corti, Bishop emeritus of Novara (Italy);
3. His Excellency, Sebastian Koto Khoarai, OMI, Bishop emeritus of Mohale's Hoek (Losetho); and
4. Reverend Ernest Simoni, a priest of the Archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult (Scutari – Albania).
Let us pray for these new Cardinals, that, confirming their commitment to Christ, the merciful and faithful High Priest (cf Heb 2:17), they may help me in my ministry as Bishop of Rome and as principal, perpetual and visible foundation of unity in faith and in communion (cf Lumen Gentium, 18).
(Original text in Italian)
Some brief biographical notes about the Cardinals
who are being created
Having entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1980, he has been entrusted with duties proper to the Pontifical Representations in Senegal, Liberia, Columbia, Germany and Romania. On 25 March 1993, he was named a Nunciature Counsellor.
On 7 February 1994, he was named as Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the International Agency of Atomic Energy (AIEA) and to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the Holy See’s Permanent Observer at the United Nations for Industrial Development (ONUDI) and at the United Nations’ office in Vienna.
On 12 July 1999, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II named him Apostolic Nuncio in the Ivory Coast and in Niger, elevating him at the same time to the titular See of Zuglio, with the dignity of Archbishop. A few days later, on 24 July, he was named Nuncio also in Burkina Faso. He received Episcopal consecration on 25 September of that same year.
On 10 May 2004, he was named Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka, and on 30 December 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Apostolic Nuncio in Syria.
His Excellency, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic) was born on 14 March 1967 in Mbomou, in the Diocese of Bangassou (Central African Republic). After primary school, he entered Saint Louis Minor Seminary in Bangassou and then Holy Apostles Major Seminary in Otélé (Cameroon) where he completed Philosophy studies before continuing studies in Theology at the Daniel Brottier Spiritan Major Seminary in Libreville (Gabon).
Having taken first vows in the Congregation of Spiritan Fathers on 8 September 1993 and perpetual vows on 6 September 1997, he was ordained a priest on 9 August 1998. During the succeeding years, he obtained a Licence in Theology at the Sèvres Jesuit Centre in France, but was then recalled to the Central African Republic, to his Institute in order to serve as Regional Superior.
While in France, from 1998 to 2005, he served as Chaplain to the orphans at the Auteuil Foundation and as parochial vicar at Saint Jérôme (Marseille); returning to the Central African Republic, he served as Regional Superior of the Spiritan Fathers and as Pastor in Bangui from 2005 until 2009; during the years 2008-2009 he served as President of the Conference of Major Superiors in Central Africa.
In 2009, he served as Apostolic Administrator of Bangui, and on 14 May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangui. He received episcopal consecration on 22 July of that year.
In July 2013, he was appointed President of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic and in that role, he participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family in October 2014.
In November 2015, he welcomed Pope Francis in his diocese. While in Bangui, Pope Francis opened the first Holy Door of the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy.
Committed personally to the process of peace in his country, in 2013, he participated, along with the President of the Islamic Council and the President of the Evangelical Alliance in Bangui, in the foundation of the inter-religious platform for peace in Central Africa.
He is the first Cardinal from Central Africa.
His Excellency, Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop of Madrid (Spain) was born in Castañeda, in the province and Diocese of Santander on 16 May 1945. After having studied his Master’s degree at the Normal School and having worked as a teacher for one year in Santander, he entered the seminary for adult vocations at the El Salvador Major College in Salamanca, where he completed courses in Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical University in that city, obtaining Licenses in both disciplines. In addition, he obtained a Diploma in Adult Formation from the same Complutense University.
He was ordained a priest on 29 July 1973 in Santander and was incardinated in that same diocese.
After his presbyteral ordination, he was appointed a member of the team of priests in the parish of the Assumption in Torrelavega for youth ministry, Director of the Casa de los muchachos and Professor at the Escuela Universitaria de Formación del Profesorado ‘Sagrados Corazones’ (1973-1975); Secretary General for Diocesan Pastoral activity; Episcopal delegate for vocations and Seminaries and for the lay apostolate and Vicar for Pastoral activity (1975-1996); Vicar General of the diocese (1976-1994); Rector of the diocesan Seminary (1977-1996); President of the Cathedral Chapter (1994-1996), Director of the Centro Asociado del Instituto Internacional de Teología a Distancia and Director of the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Religiosas San Agustín (1996).
On 27 December 1996, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Orense. He received episcopal ordination on 22 February of the following year.
On 7 January 2002, he was promoted to the Metropolitan See of Oviedo. From September 2006 to September 2007, he was also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Santander.
On 8 January 2009, he was transferred by Benedict XVI to the Metropolitan See of Valencia. On 28 August 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Madrid. Beginning in March 2014, he was appointed Vice-president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference within which he had previously served as President of the Clergy Commission (1999-2005) and as President of the Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate and Members of the Executive Committee (2005-2011).
He took part in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: The Vocation and the Mission of the Family in the Church and in the modern-day world (October 2015).
His Excellency, Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of Brasília (Brasil) was born in Dobrada, in the Diocese of Jaboticabal, in the State of São Paulo on 21 October 1959. He attended courses in Philosophy at the Diocesan Seminary of Saint Charles and Theological studies at the Theological Institute in Campinas. He obtained a License in Moral Theology from the Theological Faculty of Nossa Senhora da Assunção in São Paulo and a Doctorate in that same discipline from the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome.
He was ordained a priest on 14 December 1984 in Matão, in the Diocese of São Carlos.
As a priest, he exercised his ministry as: Pastor at Áqua Vermelha and Coordinator of Youth Ministry at São Carlos (1985-1986); Professor of Philosophy at the Diocesan Seminary and Spiritual Director of the House of Theology in Campinas (1986-1987 and 1991); Rector of the Philosophy Seminary in São Carlos (1987-1988 and 1990); Diocesan Coordinator of Vocations (1987 and 1989); Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of São Carlos (1988-1989); Parochial Vicar of the parish of Nossa Senhora de Fátima in São Carlos (1990); Diocesan Coordinator of Pastoral Activities and Rector of the São Judas Tadeua Chapel in São Carlos (1991); Professor of Moral Theology at the PUC in Campinas and Rector of the Diocesan Theological Seminary (1997-2001); Member of the formation team for Permanent Deacons; Member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors.
On 13 June 2001, he was elected Titular Bishop of Alba and named Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza. He received episcopal consecration on 11 August of that same year.
Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Teresina on 31 January 2007, he succeeded to the position of Archbishop of that See on 3 September 2008.
On 15 June 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília
In April 2015, he was elected President of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil and during his tenure, he held many responsibilities including Member of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine; Member of the Episcopal Commission for Mutirão de Superação da Miséria e da Forme; Secretary of his region, entrusted with care for Youth and for Pastoral Vocations in the North-east Region 1; Member of the Permanent Council and of the Commission for Doctrine; President of the North-east Region 1.
He also served as President of the Department for Vocations and Ministries of CELAM – the Latin American Episcopal Council.
He took part in the Syond of Bishops on the family which was held in October 2015.
His Excellency, Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (USA) was born in Omaha (Nebraska) on 19 March 1949. After having attended primary and secondary school, he attended the College of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul (Minnesota), where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1971. From 1971 to 1975, he was a student at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Later, he obtained a License (1979) and a Doctorate (1987) in Sacramental Theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
He was ordained a priest on 16 August 1975 for the Archdiocese of Omaha.
After his presbyteral ordination, he was entrusted with the following responsibilities: Associate pastor of Saint Margaret Mary parish and teacher at Paul VI High School in Omaha (1975-1978); Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Liturgy (1978-1981); Local collaborator at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. (1981-1987); Pastor of Saint Mary’s parish in Bellevue (1987-1989); President/Rector of the Josephinum Pontifical College in Columbus, Ohio (1989-1997); Pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine parish in Omaha (1997-1998).
Appointed Bishop of Rapid City (South Dakota) on 7 July 1998, he received episcopal ordination on 21 September of that year.
On 30 June 2010, he was appointed by Benedict XVI as Bishop of Spokane (Washington) and took canonical possession of that Diocese on 3 September of that year.
On 20 September 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Chicago, a position he began on 18 November of that year.
In October 2015, he participated, by Pontifical appointment, in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family.
He has served as President of the USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People (2008-2011) and as part of the National Catholic Educational Association Board (2006-2008), as well as a Member of numerous committees of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the USA.
He is currently a member of the Congregation for Bishops.
His Excellency, Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh) was born in 1 October 1943 in Padrishibpur, in the Diocese of Chittagong. He is part of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and was ordained a priest on 8 October 1972.
Elected as the first Bishop of Rajshahi on 21 May 1990, he provided for the organization of that new diocese.
On 3 February 1995, he was transferred to the See of Chittagong, the second most important See in the country.
On 25 November 2010, he as named by Pope Benedict XVI as Coadjutor Bishop of Dhaka and succeeded to that Metropolitan See on 22 October 2011.
Since December 2011, he has served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Bangladesh, and in this capacity, he participated at the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in October 2014.
He is the first Bangladeshi Cardinal.
His Excellency, Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop of Mérida (Venezuela) was born on 10 October 1944 in Caracas. After his studies in Philosophy at the Inter-diocesan Seminary in Caracas, he was sent to the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain, where he completed the Licence in Theology in 1966. Subsequently (1977), at the Superior Institute in Pastoral Theology at that same University, he was granted a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology.
He was ordained a priest on 30 July 1967 and served as Cooperative Vicar, Pastor, Diocesan associate for Cursillos, Seminary Professor and at other public and private institutions; as well as Director of the Collegio Nuestra Señora del Rosario and as Professor at the IUT de los Llanos. In Caracas, he served as Vice Rector of the Inter-diocesan Seminary and as Director of Studies (1978-1979); and also as Rector of San José del Hatillo Seminary (1979-1983).
Elected as Titular Bishop of Lamdia and Auxiliary Bishop of Mérida on 30 July 1983, he received episcopal consecration on 17 September of that year.
On 30 October 1991, Pope John Paul II named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Mérida. He took possession of that Archdiocese on 5 December of that year.
From March 1998 to June 1999, he also served as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of San Cristóbal.
He has been entrusted with many responsibilities within the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, including serving as its President for two consecutive mandates from 1999 to 2006, after having served for an extended period as its Vice-President.
He also served as the first Vice-President of CELAM from 2007 to 2011 and is still a Member of the Special Council for America of the Synod of Bishops (a position which he has held since 1997).
His Excellency, Jozef De Kesel, Archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles (Belgium) was born on 17 June 1947 in Gent (East Flanders) in the Diocese of that same name.
He was ordained a priest on 26 August 1972 for the Diocese of Gent.
He obtained the grade of Doctor in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University with the thesis entitled: Le refus décidé de l’objectivation. Une interprétation du Jésus historique dans la théologie chez Rudolf Bultmann. He is the author of numerous articles and of some books on the Church and her various aspects of Christian life. He was a teacher at the Seminary in Gent, in the centre for formation for future professors of religion and at the University of Leuven. He speaks French, Dutch, English and Italian.
Elected to the titular See of Bulna and named Auxiliary Bishop of Malines-Bruxelles on 20 March 2002, he was consecrated on 26 May of that year. From 2002 until 2010, he served as Vicar General for the Vicariate of Bruxelles. In 2010, he received pastoral responsibilities as Vicar General for the Vicariate of Flemish Brabant and the Mechelen area.
On 25 June 2010, he was appointed Bishop of Brugge.
On 6 November 2015, Pope Francis named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel, Malines-Bruxelles (Belgium) and Military Ordinary for Belgium.
Since January 2016, he has been serving as President of the Episcopal Conference of Belgium.
His Excellency, Maurice Piat, Archbishop of Port-Louis (Mauritius) was born in Moka, in the Diocese of Port-Louis, on 19 July 1941. After his secondary Studies at the Collège du Saint-Esprit in Quatre-Bornes, Ile Morice, he entered into the noviciate of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Ireland, where he made his religious profession on 8 September 1962. Obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College in Dublin, he was then admitted to the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome and pursued theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, concluding with a License in Theology in 1972.
He was ordained a priest on 2 August 1970.
At the conclusion of his Theological studies in 1972, he spent three months exercising presbyteral ministry in Bangalore (India). Returning to his country, he was then named professor and catechist at the Collège du Saint-Esprit in Quatre-Bornes. Until 1982, he was also responsible for aspiring seminarians at the Foyer Monseigneur-Murphy in Vacoas. From 1977 to 1979, he lived in Paris where he completed a course at the Institut pour la Formation des Educateurs du Clergé. Called back to Mauritius, he was named Vicar for Sunday services at the parish of Saint-François d’Assise in Pamplemousses (1979-1985), and then Pastor of the parish of Coeur-Immaculé-de-Marie in Rivière-du-Rempart (1986).
In 1981, he was also given responsibility for the Diocesan pastoral project for ecclesial base communities, and was subsequently appointed as Episcopal Vicar for the formation and coordination of Diocesan Pastoral plans. During those years, he contributed to the creation of a Centre for formation in Thabor, Beau-Bassin.
On 21 January 1991, he was named Coadjutor to the then-Bishop of Port-Louis, Cardinal Jean Margéot, and received episcopal consecration on 19 May of that year.
On 15 March 1993, he succeeded to the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Port-Louis.
He served as President of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean (CEDOI) from 1996-2002 and again from 2013 until September of this year (2016).
In 2000, he was made a member of the Permanent Committee of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SCEAM).
In October 2015, he participated in the Synod of Bishops on the Family.
His Excellency, Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life (USA) was born on 2 September 1947 in Dublin (Ireland). After having completed primary and secondary school, he attended the University of Salamanca in Spain, and then the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He obtained a license in Philosophy and in Theology from Saint Thomas University in Rome. He then completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Notre-Dame (USA). Entering into the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966, he was ordained a priest on 24 December 1978.
After his priestly ordination, he served as Chaplain at the University of Monterrey (Mexico), Professor of Economics studies, Administrator General with responsibility for seminarians and schools run by the Legionaries of Christ in Italy, Spain and Ireland. In 1983, he exercised pastoral ministry in the parish of Saint Bartholomew in Bethesda, Washington.
In 1984, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington, where he was entrusted with the following responsibilities: Associate Pastor of the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle (1984-1985); Director of the Spanish Catholic Centre (1986); Executive Regent Director of the Catholic Charitable Organizations (1987-1988); Secretary for Financial Affairs (1989-2001); and Pastor of Annunciation Parish (2000-2002).
Named Titular Bishop of Rusuccuru and Auxiliary of Washington on 28 December 2001, he received episcopal consecration on 11 February of the following year. In 2001 he was entrusted with the offices of Vicar General for Administration and Moderator of the Curia.
On 6 March 2007, he was promoted to Bishop of Dallas.
On 15 August 2016, Pope Francis called him to collaborate in the Roman Curia, naming him Prefect of the newly-formed Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
His Excellency, Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla (Mexico) was born 9 January 1950 in Tepic. He was a student at the Seminary of Tepic and went on to study at the Seminary of Montezuma (USA) and at Tula. He subsequently earned a License in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
He was ordained a priest on 22 April 1973.
As a priest, he served as Parochial Vicar, Rector of the Seminary in Tepic and at the same time as President of the Mexican Organization for Seminaries (OSMEX) and as a Member of the Directive Council of the Latin-American Seminaries. He then served as Rector of the Juan XXIII Residence for priests at the Pontifical University of Mexico and as Professor of Sacred Scripture at that same University.
On 28 May 1997, he was named Bishop of Texcoco and received episcopal ordination on 29 June of that year.
On 5 February 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Tlalnepantla.
From 2006 to 2012, he was President of the Episcopal Conference of Mexico, after having served as Secretary General from 2004 to 2006.
He has been entrusted with various responsibilities by CELAM (the Latin-American Episcopal Conference): Secretary General from 2000 to 2003; First Vice-President from 2003 to 2007 and finally President from 2011 to 2015.
In October 2014, and again in October 2015, Pope Francis called him to participate in the two respective Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops on the Family.
His Excellency, John Ribat, M.S.C., Archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) was born on 9 February 1957 in Volavolo, in the Archdiocese of Rabaul. After having attended elementary school in Naveo and Volavolo, he went on to the Malabunga Government High School in Rabaul. Having completed upper school at the Minor Seminary of Saint Peter Chanel in Ulapia, he entered the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, where he professed first vows on 2 February 1979. He then studied Philosophy and Theology at Holy Spirit Seminary in Bomana and was ordained a priest on 1 December 1985.
After his presbyteral ordination and until 1991, he exercised presbyteral service in various parishes throughout the Diocese of Bereina; he then undertook a formation course at the SAIDI Centre in Manila and from 1992 to 1996, served as Master of Novices. In 1997, he served as Pastor and from 1998 to 2000 as Master of Novices at Suva on the Island of Fiji.
On 30 October 2000, he was elected to the titular Episcopal See of Macriana minore and named Auxiliary of the Diocese of Bereina (Papua New Guinea). He received episcopal ordination on 11 February 2001.
One year afterward, on 11 February 2002, he was named Bishop of Bereina.
On 16 April 2007, Benedict XVI named him Coadjutor Archbishop of Port Moresby and on 26 March 2008, he became Archbishop of that Metropolitan See.
He served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands from 2011 to 2014.
In 2014, he was named President of the Federation of Conferences of Catholic Bishops of Oceania (FCBCO).
He is the first Cardinal from Papua New Guinea.
His Excellency, Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Indianapolis (USA) was born in Detroit (Michigan), in the Archdiocese of that name, on 3 May 1952. Having entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, he professed temporary vows on 5 August 1972 and solemn vows on 21 August 1976. In 1975, he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy at Holy Redeemer College in Waterford (Wisconsin); in 1977, a Master’s degree in Religious Education and in 1979 a Master of Divinity (Pastoral Theology) at Mount Saint Alphonsus Major Seminary in Esopus (New York).
Ordained a priest on 1 June 1978, he served as Associate Pastor (1979-1984) and then as Pastor (1984-1990) at Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit; as Episcopal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Detroit (1980-1986); and as Pastor of Saint Alphonsus Parish in Chicago (1990-1991).
In 1991, he was elected Consultor General for the Redemptorist Fathers and on 9 September 1997 as Superior General. He was reconfirmed in this charge on 26 September 2003. During that same year, he became Vice-President of the Union of Superiors General.
In addition, he was made a Member of the Council for Relations between the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and the International Unions of Superiors General (2001-2009).
Appointed as Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on 2 August 2010, and elevated at that time to the titular See of Obba with the dignity of Archbishop, he received episcopal consecration on 9 October of that year.
On 18 October 2012, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Archbishop of Indianapolis.
His Excellency, Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop emeritus of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) was born on 22 April 1932 in Sungai Patani, in the Diocese of Penang, in a family of Indian origin. He was ordained a priest on 10 December 1966.
On 29 September 1977, he was named Bishop of Penang and received episcopal consecration on 17 February 1978.
On 2 July 1993, he was promoted to Metropolitan Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and on 10 November of that year, he took possession of his new Archdiocese, which he led until 15 April 2003. Since that date, he has been residing at the major seminary in Penand, where he dedicates his energy to the formation of priests as a Spiritual Director.
He served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei for two mandates: from 1987 to 1990 and again from 2000 to 2003.
He is the first Cardinal from Malaysia.
His Excellency, Renato Corti, Bishop emeritus of Novara (Italy) was born in Galbiate, in the Province of Como and the Diocese of Milan on 1 March 1936. After having completed elementary school and having gone on to the seminary in Milan, he eventually completed his formation.
Ordained a priest on 28 June 1959 by Cardinal Montini (the future Pope Paul VI), he served as part of the pastoral staff at the Oratory in Caronno Pertusella from 1959 to 1967.
He then went on to the Archdiocesan College in Gorla as Spiritual Director. In 1969 he transferred to Saronno with the same pastoral responsibilities and then was appointed Rector in charge of theological studies for two years: from 1977 to November 1980 when he was chosen by Archbishop Martini to serve as Vicar General.
Elected to the titular episcopal See of Zallata and named Auxiliary of Milan on 30 April 1981, he received episcopal ordination on 6 June of that year. In addition to his diocesan duties, he served as President of the Italian Episcopal Conference’s Clergy Commission.
Appointed Bishop of Novara on 19 December 1990, he took possession of his Diocese on 3 March 1991. He was Pastor of the Diocese of Novara until 24 November 2011 when the Pope accepted his resignation from pastoral governance, he having reached the age limit of 75 years.
For 10 years, until 2005, he served as Vice-president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
In February 2005, he preached the spiritual exercises for the Vatican Curia, the last at which Pope John Paul II was present.
In 2015, Pope Francis confided to him the task of writing the meditations for the traditional Good Friday Via Crucis in the Roman Colosseum.
His Excellency, Sebastian Koto Khoarai, OMI, Bishop emeritus of Mohale’s Hoek (Lesotho) was born in Koaling, in the Diocese of Leribe on 11 September 1929.
Having entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he was ordained a priest on 21 December 1956.
Raised to the Episcopate on 10 November 1977 as Ordinary of Mohale’s Hoek, he was consecrated on 2 April 1978.
In May 2006, he presented his resignation for reasons of having reached the age limit, but remained as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek until February 2014.
From 1982 until 1987, he served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Lesotho.
He is the first Cardinal from Lesotho.
Reverend Ernest Simoni, Priest of the Archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult (Scutari-Albania) was born on 18 October 1928 in Troshani, a village located a few kilometres from Scutari, in a family that was profoundly religious. At the age of ten years, he entered the Franciscan College in Troshani, beginning the process of studies for seminary formation. In 1948, at the height of the religious persecutions enacted by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, even the Franciscan convent was attacked and transformed into a place of torture for prisoners. The Brothers were all killed and the novices driven away. Twenty-year old Ernest was sent by the regime to teach in a remote village in the mountains, and there his work focused more than ever before on missionary and evangelizing work. After two years of extremely hard military service (1953-1955), he clandestinely completed his Theological studies and on 7 April 1956, was ordained a priest in Scutari. In obedience to his Bishop, he was incardinated in the Diocese, even though in his heart he remained profoundly Franciscan. On 24 December 1963, after Christmas Mass, he was arrested and taken to the Scutari jail, to an isolation cell. Condemned to death, his sentence was changed to 25 years of forced labour. In prison, he became a spiritual father to the prisoners and their point of reference. On 22 May 1973, he was once more condemned to death as an accused instigator of revolt, but thanks to the testimony in his favour which was presented by the prisoners, the condemnation was not acted upon. In total, he spent 18 years in prison and in hard labour, twelve of those years in mines. After his liberation in 1981, he continued to be considered as a menace to the people and was therefore obliged to work in the sewers of Scutari. He exercised his priestly ministry clandestinely until the fall of the regime in 1990. Since then, he has continued to serve as a humble priest, in many villages, seeking to reconcile many people and to keep them from seeking revenge by sharing his testimony with them. His witness profoundly moved Pope Francis when he visited Tirana on 21 September 2014.
Ordained a priest on 28 June 1959 by Cardinal Montini (the future Pope Paul VI), he served as part of the pastoral staff at the Oratory in Caronno Pertusella from 1959 to 1967.
He then went on to the Archdiocesan College in Gorla as Spiritual Director. In 1969 he transferred to Saronno with the same pastoral responsibilities and then was appointed Rector in charge of theological studies for two years: from 1977 to November 1980 when he was chosen by Archbishop Martini to serve as Vicar General.
Elected to the titular episcopal See of Zallata and named Auxiliary of Milan on 30 April 1981, he received episcopal ordination on 6 June of that year. In addition to his diocesan duties, he served as President of the Italian Episcopal Conference’s Clergy Commission.
Appointed Bishop of Novara on 19 December 1990, he took possession of his Diocese on 3 March 1991. He was Pastor of the Diocese of Novara until 24 November 2011 when the Pope accepted his resignation from pastoral governance, he having reached the age limit of 75 years.
For 10 years, until 2005, he served as Vice-president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
In February 2005, he preached the spiritual exercises for the Vatican Curia, the last at which Pope John Paul II was present.
In 2015, Pope Francis confided to him the task of writing the meditations for the traditional Good Friday Via Crucis in the Roman Colosseum.
His Excellency, Sebastian Koto Khoarai, OMI, Bishop emeritus of Mohale’s Hoek (Lesotho) was born in Koaling, in the Diocese of Leribe on 11 September 1929.
Having entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he was ordained a priest on 21 December 1956.
Raised to the Episcopate on 10 November 1977 as Ordinary of Mohale’s Hoek, he was consecrated on 2 April 1978.
In May 2006, he presented his resignation for reasons of having reached the age limit, but remained as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek until February 2014.
From 1982 until 1987, he served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Lesotho.
He is the first Cardinal from Lesotho.
Reverend Ernest Simoni, Priest of the Archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult (Scutari-Albania) was born on 18 October 1928 in Troshani, a village located a few kilometres from Scutari, in a family that was profoundly religious. At the age of ten years, he entered the Franciscan College in Troshani, beginning the process of studies for seminary formation. In 1948, at the height of the religious persecutions enacted by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, even the Franciscan convent was attacked and transformed into a place of torture for prisoners. The Brothers were all killed and the novices driven away. Twenty-year old Ernest was sent by the regime to teach in a remote village in the mountains, and there his work focused more than ever before on missionary and evangelizing work. After two years of extremely hard military service (1953-1955), he clandestinely completed his Theological studies and on 7 April 1956, was ordained a priest in Scutari. In obedience to his Bishop, he was incardinated in the Diocese, even though in his heart he remained profoundly Franciscan. On 24 December 1963, after Christmas Mass, he was arrested and taken to the Scutari jail, to an isolation cell. Condemned to death, his sentence was changed to 25 years of forced labour. In prison, he became a spiritual father to the prisoners and their point of reference. On 22 May 1973, he was once more condemned to death as an accused instigator of revolt, but thanks to the testimony in his favour which was presented by the prisoners, the condemnation was not acted upon. In total, he spent 18 years in prison and in hard labour, twelve of those years in mines. After his liberation in 1981, he continued to be considered as a menace to the people and was therefore obliged to work in the sewers of Scutari. He exercised his priestly ministry clandestinely until the fall of the regime in 1990. Since then, he has continued to serve as a humble priest, in many villages, seeking to reconcile many people and to keep them from seeking revenge by sharing his testimony with them. His witness profoundly moved Pope Francis when he visited Tirana on 21 September 2014.
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