Pope Francis has once again demonstrated his desire to promote a universal and diverse Church by appointing 21 new cardinals during a consistory in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. This solemn ceremony brought together profiles from four different continents, highlighting the multicultural and global character of the Catholic Church.
Among the new cardinals appointed, two French people were distinguished: Mgr Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, and Mgr François-Xavier Bustillo, bishop of Ajaccio. This is a first in the history of the diocese of Corsica. Alongside these French personalities, we find representatives from other countries, such as the Archbishop of Juba in South Sudan, Mgr Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, or the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, himself from Palestine.
The choice of these new cardinals testifies to Pope Francis’ desire to promote a Church that reflects the diversity of cultures and geographical realities. In his speech during the consistory, the Holy Father compared the College of Cardinals to a symphony orchestra, where each instrument makes its own contribution to the whole composition. Diversity is considered a necessity for the Church, where each member has a role to play in building a common project.
With this appointment, the college of cardinals now has 242 members, 138 of whom are old enough to participate in the conclave for the election of the next pope. This diversification of the college makes it possible to give a voice to different geographical and cultural backgrounds within the Catholic Church.
This consistory also marks recognition of the efforts of the new cardinals in areas such as peace, reconciliation and interreligious dialogue. The Archbishop of Juba, Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, is particularly praised for his commitment to peace in a region which has experienced years of civil war.
In short, the appointment of these 21 new cardinals by Pope Francis reinforces the idea of a universal Catholic Church, which welcomes and recognizes the diversity of realities and cultures. This decision testifies to the Holy Father’s desire to promote unity in difference, by giving each member of the Church a role to play in the construction of a common project.