Pope Francis announces new consistory to coincide with close of Jubilee

Vatican City, Oct 9, 2016 / 04:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Sunday Pope Francis announced that he will hold a consistory of cardinals on the Nov. 19 close of the Jubilee of Mercy, during which he will elevate 13 bishops to the cardinalate – including three Americans.

“Dear brothers and sisters I am happy to announce that Saturday, Nov. 19 at the vigil for the closing of the Holy Door of mercy, a consistory will take place for the nomination of 13 cardinals from 5 continents,” the Pope said Oct. 9.

“The fact that they come from 11 nations expresses the universality of the Church, which announces and bears witness to the good news of the mercy of God in every corner of the earth.”

Among the 13 new cardinal-elects are three Americans: Archbishop Blasé Cupich of Chicago, Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis and Bishop Kevin Farrell, prefect of the new Congregation for Laity, Family and Life.

Others include: Archbishop Mario Zenari, who is and will remain apostolic nuncio to the “beloved and martyred” Syria; Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga of Bangui; Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Madrid; Archbishop Sergio da Rocha of Brazil; Archbishop Patrick Rosario of Dacca; Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo of Merida; Archbishop Joseph de Kesel of Malines Bruxelles; Bishop Maurice Piat of Port Louis; Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Tlaneplalta and Archbishop John Ribat of Port Moresby.

In addition to the 13 new electoral cardinals, Francis has nominated three others who are of non-voting age due to their notable service to the Church: Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur; Renato Corti, Archbishop Emeritus of Novara and Fr Ernest Simoni, presbitero di Scutari, an Albanian priest from the diocese of Shkodra, who is a testimony of the persecution of the Albanian Church under the communist regime.

(This article is being updated)