New Cardinals to be named

News has been circulating in recent days that there is a possibility of a Consistory being called in February 2014.  Today, the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Frederico Lombardi, SJ held a press conference this morning in which he clarified the details.

On the occasion of the meeting of the Council of Cardinals at the beginning of this month (October 1-3), and again during the successive meeting of the Synod Council (October 7-8), the Holy Father informed the participants about his intention to convoke a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals on the occasion of the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, February 22, 2014.  Pope Francis decided to share this news at this time in order to allow also for the scheduling of other meetings at which the Cardinals from various parts of the world may have to participate.

We can anticipate that the Pope also intends to precede the Consistory, as his predecessors have also done before him, by a meeting of the College of Cardinals.

Before this meeting can take place, we also anticipate that on February 17 and 18, the third meeting of the Council of Cardinals (known also as the eight cardinals) will be held, and that after the Consistory, on February 24 and 25, the next meeting of the Synod Council will be held.

Also, the next meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the economic and organizational issues of the Holy See (the so-called Council of 15) will also be inserted in the calendar for the month of February (as it has been scheduled in former years) probably during the previous week.