Introducing the 21 new cardinals

Pope Francis, after the Regina Coeli on Sunday, announced that he will create 21 new cardinals at a consistory on Saturday, 27 August. 

The College of Cardinals currently consists of 208 cardinals, of whom 117 are electors and 91 non-electors. 

As of 27 August, the number will grow to 229 cardinals, of whom 132 will be electors.

Eight of the newly named cardinals are from Europe, six from Asia, two from Africa, one from the United States, and four from Latin America.

The College will consist of 52 cardinals created by John Paul II (11 of whom are electors); 64 created by Benedict XVI (38 of whom are electors); and 113 created by Francis (83 of whom are electors).

Geographically, the cardinals are: 

Europe - 107 cardinals, of whom 54 are electors; 

Americas - 60 cardinals, of whom 38 are electors; 

Asia - 30 cardinals, of whom 20 are electors; 

Africa - 27 cardinals, of whom 17 are electors; 

Oceania - 5 cardinals, of whom 3 are electors.

The new cardinals-designate who will be electors in a conclave:

1. British Archbishop Arthur Roche, 72, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments  

• Had been CDW secretary since 2012, working under the previous prefect Cardinal Robert Sarah.
• Has first-hand knowledge of the very sensitive files at Divine Worship.
• Served eight years as head of the Diocese of Leeds (2004-2012).
• Ordained to the presbyterate of Leeds in 1975. 
• Served as general secretary of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales from 1996-2001, then named auxiliary bishop of Westminster.
• Chaired the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) in the early 2000s, oversaw the final phase of the translation of the Roman Missal. (However, the Vatican-based "Vox Clara" Committee intervened and made substantial changes to the group's work)

2. Korean Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung sik, 70, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy 

• Baptized a Catholic at the age of 16, ordained a priest for the Diocese of Daejeon in 1979.
• Former seminary rector in the same diocese. 
• Appointed coadjutor of Daejeon in 2003 and two years later assumed full responsibility.
• Spent his entire priestly ministry in the same diocese, the last 17 years as its bishop.
• Was head of the Korean Bishops' Conference's Peace Committee and has traveled to North Korea four times.
• Knows the pope and hosted Francis in his diocese in 2014 for the Asian Youth Day. 
• Was a papal appointee at the Synod of Bishops' assembly on young people in 2018 and supports the pope's policy on engaging China. 

3. Spanish Archbishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga L.C., 77, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate for Vatican City State

• Member of the Legionaries of Christ, ordained in1969.
• Had been the SCV secretary-general (or No. 2 official) of the start of the current pontificate.
• First Legionary in the scandal-stained congregation's relatively brief history to become a cardinal.
• Previously director of the Vatican City State Telecommunications Directorate (appointed by Benedict XVI in 2008).
• Born in Salamanca but since the 1960s has lived and worked in Rome, for most of that time in the Roman Curia.
• Attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, gaining degrees in philosophy and theology, then a diploma as an archivist from the Vatican Secret Archives.
• In 1972 he entered the service of the Roman Curia as an assistant in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
• In 1984 was moved to the Pontifical Council for the Laity. 
• Later appointed to head the ordinary section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
• In 2004 became head of the Internet Office of the Holy See. 
• In August 2013 Pope Francis made him Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State. 

4. Archbishop Jean-Marc Aveline, 63, Metropolitan Archbishop of Marseille (France) 

• Algerian-born archbishop has been president of the Council for Interreligious Relations and New Religious Movements of the French Bishops' Conference.
• Entered in 1977, the interdiocesan seminary in Avignon.
• In 1980, joined the Catholic Institute of Paris, where he studied theology and philosophy at the Universities of Paris I and Paris IV-Sorbonne (1980-1986).
• Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Marseille in 1984, he continued his studies and obtained a double degree in theology and philosophy the following year and a master's degree in theology in 1986.
• Was professor of dogmatic theology and director of studies at the interdiocesan seminary of Marseille from 1986 to 1991, and then head of the diocesan service of vocations and diocesan delegate for seminarians from 1991 to 1996.
• In 1992 founded the Institute of Science and Theology of Religions of Marseille, which he managed until 2002.
• In 1995 became Director of the Institute Saint-Jean, which in 1998 became the Catholic Institute from the Mediterranean, an associate center of the Catholic University of Lyon, where he taught at the Faculty of Theology from 1998 to 2007.
• In 2000 completed joint doctorate in theology and philosophy at the Catholic Institute of Paris and Laval University in Montreal on the Christological theology of religions.
• Was appointed auxiliary bishop of Marseille by Pope Francis in 2013 (before that was vicar general of the archdiocese.)
• Was also a consultant to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue from 2008 to 2013 and a member of the Studies and Projects Committee of the French Bishops' Conference between 2016 and 2017. 
• Was installed as Marseille archbishop in 2019.

5. Bishop Peter Okpaleke, 59, Bishop of Ekwulobia (Nigeria)

• Bishop Okpaleke, an Igbo who had been appointed bishop of the Diocese of Ahiara in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI and confirmed by Pope Francis, was still unable to carry out his mission there five years later. (Priests and laity of the diocese, most of whom belonged to Mbaise majority ethnic group, refused to accept him).
• Had to resign in 2018, as the situation was untenable. 
• Two years later the Vatican created a new diocese (the Diocese of Ekwulobia) and Francis named Okpaleke its very first bishop.

6. Archbishop Leonardo Ulrich Steiner OFM, 71, Metropolitan Archbishop of Manaus (Brazil)

• Franciscan who played a leading role during the Amazon Synod.
• Current Vice President of the recently created Amazonian Bishops’ Conference.
• Installed Archbishop of Manaus in 2020. 
• Has twice been secretary general of the National Confederation of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB).
• Born in 1950 in Forquilhinha, State of Santa Catarina, in the Diocese of Criciúma (Brazil), ordained a priest in 1978.
• Obtained his Licentiate and Doctorate in Philosophy at the Pontifical University Antonianum in Rome.
• Appointed Bishop of São Félix in 2005.
• One of the first national leaders of Catholicism to publicly support civil unions.

7. Archbishop Filipe Neri António Sebastião di Rosário Ferrão, 69, Archbishop of Goa and Damão (India)

• Was ordained a priest in 1979. 
• Appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman at the age of 40 in 1993. Appointed Archbishop of Goa and Daman and the Patriarch ad honorem of the East Indies in 2003; installed as archbishop 2004. 
• Archdiocese of Goa was set up in 1557; now after 465 years, gets its first cardinal. (The tiny Indian state of Goa, a Portuguese enclave from 1510 to 1961, where Catholics account for less than a fourth of the population served as a political and missionary springboard for activities in Asia)
• Served the Latin-rite Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) as its vice-president. 
• Fluent in Konkani, English, Portuguese, Italian, French and German.
• Former chairman of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) office of education and faith formation.

8. Bishop Robert Walter McElroy, 68, Bishop of San Diego (USA)

• Born in San Francisco in 1954, grew up in San Mateo County. 
• Ordained a priest in 1980.
• A graduate of Harvard, Stanford and the Pontifical Gregorian University.
• Served as auxiliary bishop to San Francisco from 2010.
• In 2015 Pope Francis tapped him to lead San Diego Diocese.
• Signed a statement last year expressing support for LGBTQ youth and denouncing the bullying directed at them. 
• Has strongly asserted views that the Eucharist ought not be denied to politicians who support the legalization of abortion.

9. Archbishop Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva SDB, 54, Archbishop of Dili (East Timor)

• Born in Venilale, ordained a priest for the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1998, after studying philosophy and theology in Manila, Philippines. 
• In 2005, he studied at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome, and obtained a licentiate in spirituality.
• From 1999 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2014, he served as formation director and novice master for the Salesians (Concurrently as director of the Salesian-run technical school in Fatumaca from 2009 to 2014.)
• In 2015 was elected as the superior for the Salesian Province of East Timor and Indonesia.
• A year later appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of Dili and ordained in 2016.
• In 2019, in conjunction with the elevation of Dili Diocese to an archdiocese, was appointed archbishop.

10. Bishop Oscar Cantoni, 72 in September, Bishop of Como (Italy)

• Cantoni is from Como. 
• Priest since 1975, entrusted with the task of looking after the diocesan vocation ministry, for which he organized, over the years, various formative prayer initiatives, aimed at young people.
• Contributed to the birth and development of the Ordo Virginum (association of consecrated virgins) in the Diocese of Como.
• In 1986 was appointed spiritual father of the Seminary of the Larian city, a position held until 2003.
• First office as bishop was in Crema, 2005.
• In 2016 was appointed bishop of Como.

11. Archbishop Anthony Poola, 60, Archbishop di Hyderabad (India) 

• First Dalit and also first Telugu [native of Indian Andhra Pradesh state] in the history of the Catholic Church to be appointed as cardinal.
• Ordained a priest in 1992. 
• Was 46 years old when appointed as the bishop of Kurnool in 2008.
• Was appointed as the archbishop of Hyderabad by Pope Francis in 2020.
• Served as chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Social Service Society from 2008-20, secretary-general and treasurer of Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Conference (TCBC) from 2014-20.
• Chairman of the Sikh Village Campus, Secretariat for TCBC Priests Community from 2014-20 and chairman of Jeevan in-state Printing Press from 2014-20. 

12. Archbishop Paulo Cezar Costa, 55, Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília (Brazil)

• Holds a degree in theology from the Higher Institute of Theology of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro (1991), a master’s degree in theology from the Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana (1998) and a doctorate in theology from the Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana (2001). 
• Ordained a priest at the age of 25, served in the Parish of São Pedro and São Paulo, in the municipality of Paraíba do Sul.
• Between 1994 and 1996, he was pastor of the Parish of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and of the aggregate Parish of São Sebastião dos Ferreiros, in Vassouras (RJ). 
• In 2002, after returning from his studies in Rome, he took over the Parish of Santa Rosa de Lima, in the municipality of Valença, where he stayed until 2007, and later, he assumed the rectorship of the Paulo VI Diocesan Seminary, in Nova Iguaçu (RJ).
• Member of the expert group of the Episcopal Doctrine Commission of the CNBB.
• Member of the National Pastoral Institute and coordinator of the Theology department at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio).
• Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Director of the Theology Department at PUC-Rio.
• Professor and director of the Paul VI Institute of Philosophy and Theology.
• Professor at the Higher Institute of Theology of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, Professor at the São Bento Theological School, ETSB.
• In 2010 appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro.
• In 2016 appointed 7th bishop of the Diocese of São Carlos by Pope Francis.
• Appointed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Brasília in 2020.
• Is responsible for the Universities Sector of the Church in Brazil of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for Education and Culture.
• Member of the Permanent Council of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) and a member of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).
• Member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.

13. Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobrì M.Afr., 63, Bishop of Wa (Ghana)

• Member of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa
• Ordained priest in 1987.
• Known in Ghana for many acts of charity, love for people suffering from mental challenges and who have been neglected by their families, going on the streets looking for patients and providing them with care.
• In 2016 appointed Bishop of Wa.
• Volunteers in diocesan projects that takes care of people with mental illnesses; involves parishes, faith-based organizations, religious women and men, brought on board doctors and nurses who started providing free medication.
• Uses media platforms to create awareness about mental illnesses.

14. Archbishop William Goh Seng Chye, 65, Archbishop of Singapore (Singapore)

• Fourth and current Archbishop of Singapore, and Singapore's first cardinal. 
• Was ordained in 1985; completed his studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, which was followed by a licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
• In 1992 was posted as a Resident Formator and Initiation Year Director at the Major Seminary. 
• In 1995 became a member of the Theological Advisory Commission of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference. 
• Was the Spiritual Director of the Archdiocesan Catholic Spirituality Centre, Amplify Youth Ministry, Jesus Youth Singapore and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Experience.
• Appointment as Coadjuctor of Singapore in 2012.
• Fluent Mandarin speaker.
• Prioritizes pastoral outreach to migrants. 

15. Archbishop Adalberto Martínez Flores, 71, Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay)

• First cardinal of Paraguay.
• A native of the city of Asunción; in 1977 entered the International Priestly School of the Focolare Movement, and finished his theology studies at the Pontifical Lateran University (Rome).
• Was ordained a priest in American Virgin Islands, USA in 1985; incardinated priest of Asunción, Paraguay, in 1994
• Appointed as auxiliary to Asunción Archdiocese in 1997.
• In 2000 was named Bishop of San Lorenzo.
• In 2007 named bishop of San Pedro Apóstol.
• In 2012 was appointed military bishop.
• In 2018 head of the Diocese of Villarica del Espíritu Santo.
• Since February 2022 heads Archdiocese of Asunción.
• Was responsible for the pastoral communication (1997) and youth between 1997 and 2007. Currently works in the areas of communication, laity, ecumenism and education, and in the protection team for minors and vulnerable adults. 
• Was secretary general of the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference for two terms, and president since 2018. Last year he was re-elected for the 2021-2024 term.
• At CELAM, was responsible for the Youth section (2003-2007), and president of the Department of Communication and Press 2011-2015.

16. Archbishop Giorgio Marengo IMC, 48, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)

• Appointed as the head of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar in 2020.
• Born in 1974 in Cuneo, Italy. 
• Studied philosophy at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy (1993-1995), did his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome (1995-1998).
• Took religious vows as a member of the Consolata Missionaries, officially known by the Latin name, “Institutum Missionum a Consolata” (IMC) in 2000.
• Was ordained a priest on 26 May 2001.
• For six years from 2000 continued studies at Pontifical Urban University and secured a licentiate and a doctorate in missiology.
• Was assigned to the mission in Mongolia in 2003, making him the first IMC missionary in young missionary Church in Asia.
• Since his priestly ordination, has carried out his pastoral ministry in Arvaiheer, Mongolia. 
• In 2016 appointed as the regional counsellor for Asia, superior for Mongolia and parish priest of the parish of Mary Mother of Mercy in Arvaiheer.
• The Catholic Church in Mongolia has about 1,300 faithful out of a total of three and a half million inhabitants. There are eight parishes and about 60 missionaries of different nationalities and congregations who meet regularly.

Cardinals-designate who will be over 80 by the time of their creation:

17. Archbishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal, Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena (Colombia) 

• Belongs to the religious congregation of the Eudist fathers.
• Born in Bucaramanga in 1942.
• In 1964 he joined the Congregation of Jesus and Mary. 
• Studied philosophy at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Theology at the Eudist Seminary in Valmaría 
• Ordained a priest in 1967.
• Loves teaching
• Served as Bishop of Zipaquirá and Cartagena. 
• Was secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, president and secretary of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).
• In 2021, Pope Francis accepts his resignation as Archbishop of Cartagena.

18. Bishop Lucas Van Looy SDB, Bishop Emeritus of Gent (Belgium)

• Born in 1941, took final vows as a Salesian in 1968 and was ordained a priest in 1970.
• Worked as a missionary in Korea from 1972 to 1984, held leadership positions with the Salesians from 1984 to 2003 (head of missions from 1984 to 1990, youth ministry head from 1990 to 1996, and Vicar General from 1996 to 2003)
• After three years in South Korea he studied theology at the Catholic University of Louvain from 1967 to 1970. 
• Appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Ghent by Pope John Paul in 2003, was Bishop of Ghent from 2004 to 2019. 

19. Archbishop Arrigo Miglio, Archbishop Emeritus of Cagliari (Italy)

• Born in 1941 in San Giorgio Canavese, Piedmont, Italy and was ordained in 1967. 
• Was named Bishop of Iglesias in 1992.
• In 1999 was named Bishop of Ivrea. 
• President of the scientific committee and organizer of the Social Weeks of Catholic Italians as well as member of the Episcopal Commission of the Italian Episcopal Conference for social issues, labour, justice and peace.
• In 2012 he was named Archbishop of Cagliari by Pope Benedict XVI, served as archbishop till 2019.
• Has been president of the Sardinian Episcopal Conference since 2012.

20. Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, canon law professor and former university rector

• Born in 1942 in Rome.
• Received a laurea in jurisprudence from the Sapienza University of Rome in 1966. 
• Worked for Fiat while earning his degree and entered the Society of Jesus upon his graduation.
• Was ordained a priest in 1973. 
• Earned a bachelor's degree in sacred theology from the Gregorian University the year of his ordination, and earned a licentiate in canon law in 1975. 
• Earned a doctorate in canon law summa cum laude in 1978.
• Taught courses in canon law in various faculties of the Gregorian since 1975. 
• In 1986 he became a full professor and served as Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law from 1995 to 2004. 
• Has served the Holy See as a consultor of various congregations and councils, and has been a judge of the Court of Appeal in Vatican City from 1993 to 2003. 
• Has published books on canon law, and approximately 110 articles in various publications.
• Was appointed rector of the Gregorian University on 1 September 2004 by Pope John Paul II.
• In 2014 appointed as papal assistant to the Legion of Christ in its ongoing attempt to complete its renewal process.
• Extensively collaborated in the drafting of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium

21. Msgr. Fortunato Frezza, Canon of Saint Peter's Basilica and former Synod official

• Born in Montecalvello in 1942. 
• Was parish priest of Ponzano, coadjutor of the parish of the Madonna della Quercia and parish priest of Sipicciano. 
• An expert in sacred writing, was vice president of the Bonaventurian Studies Center in Bagnoregio.
• Devoted himself for a long time to medieval studies between Lazio and Umbria.
• Was undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, ecclesiastical assistant to the doctors and pharmacists of the Vatican City and chaplain of Roma Calcio.
• Author of various essays and books, including “Paolo di Tarso-Confessioni”, “Pro Amicis-Sunday homilies to doctors” and “Il Liber di Angela da Foligno”. 
• In 1989, edited the German translation of the book "Servants of your joy" by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.