Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Changes among the order of some Cardinals

Roman Pontiffs have always been concerned - with an eye of special fraternal care - for the College of Cardinals.  In fact, the Cardinals offer support to the mission of the Successor of Peter, adding their precious contribution and their experience to the service of their particular Churches spread throughout the world and enriching in a special way their ties of communion with the Church of Rome.

In recent decades, there have been a number of additions to the College of Cardinals (28 June 2018; 28 June 2017; 19 November 2016; 14 February 2015; 22 February 2014).  Within the College of Cardinals, there are three Orders: Cardinal Bishops, Cardinal Presbyters (Priests) and Cardinal Deacons.  While the number of Cardinals belonging to the Order of Presbyters and the Order of Deacons has grown considerably, the number of those who are Cardinal Bishops has remained constant and unvaried.  Therefore, it has become necessary to enlarge the current number of Cardinals belonging to the Order of Cardinals.


The Supreme Pontiff, Francis,

In an audience granted to the undersigned Substitute for General Affairs (of the Secretariat of State) on 12 June 2018, has decided to elevate to the Order of Cardinal Bishops, equating them in all respects to the other Cardinal Bishops, and assigning to them the titles of suburban Churches within the Diocese of Rome, in accordance with the prescriptions of Canons 350 §§ 1-2 and 352 §§ 2-3 of the Code of Canon Law, the following Cardinals:

  • His Eminence, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State; assigning him the Title of Saints Simon and Jude Thadeus in Torre Angela;
  • His Eminence, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches; assigning him the Title of Saints Biagio and Charles in Catinari;
  • His Eminence, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; assigning him the Title of Santa Maria in Traspontina; and
  • His Eminence, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; assigning him the title of Deacon of Nostra Signora di Coromoto in San Giovanni di Dio.

The present Rescript will be promulgated by publication in L'Osservatore Romano, entering into effect on 28 June 2018, and then published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis (Acts of the Apostolic See).

Given at the Vatican
26 June 2018

+Angelo Becciu
Substitute for General Affairs

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