Pope Francis on Saturday appointed 20 new cardinals, another step in preparation for his succession, France Presse reported.

The consistory, the eighth of Francis’ pontificate since his election in 2013, comes amid speculation that the 85-year-old pope, who has been confined to a wheelchair for months due to knee pain, may one day abdicate.

On Saturday, at 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. in Romania), under the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Pope will create 20 new cardinals, from whom 16 “electors” – under the age of 80 – will be able to participate. in the upcoming conclave.

The appointment of these senior prelates to assist the Pope is seen by observers as a sign of the future spiritual leader of the 1.3 billion Catholics.

Almost two-thirds of the consistory was appointed by Pope Francis

Sensitive to minority communities, social structure and evangelization, the Argentine Jesuit distanced himself from the traditional election of archbishops in big cities, preferring less expected profiles of future cardinals.

With five Asians, two of whom are Indian, this consistory confirms the growing importance of this continent.

It is also “a representation of the Church today, with an important place for the southern hemisphere,” home to 80 percent of Catholics, said Bernard Leconte, a Vatican expert.

Thus, at the end of this consistory, on November 1, 2020, Pope Francis will have chosen 83 cardinals from the current 132 electors, nearly two-thirds, the proportion needed to elect a new Pope, even though these elections are always unpredictable. .

With 40% of voters, Europe remains the best-represented continent, ahead of South America and Asia (16% each), Africa (13%) and North America (12%).

Cardinals from around the world

Notable figures include the American Robert McElroy, bishop of San Diego in California, who is considered progressive for his stance on gay Catholics, in particular.

It is also worth noting the unexpected election of the Italian missionary Giorgio Marengo, who works in Mongolia and at the age of 48 will become the youngest cardinal in the world.

Next to them is Jean-Marc Avelin, Archbishop of Marseille, who becomes the sixth Frenchman in the College of Cardinals.

“This trust given to me by the Pope is a great honor that obliges me and obliges me even more in my mission in the service of Christ,” said the 63-year-old Archbishop Avelin, who is especially supposed to participate in interreligious dialogue.

Other prelates who will wear the purple mantle are Nigerian Peter Okpaleke, Brazilian Leonardo Ulrich Steiner and Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, Archbishop of Dili (East Timor).

Three future cardinals already hold important positions in the Curia, the “government” of the Vatican: the British Arthur Roche, the South Korean Lazzaro Yoo Hyun-sik and the Spanish Fernando Verges Alzaga.

Then there is a discussion with all the cardinals of the Catholic Church

As is customary, everyone will kneel before the Pope to receive the red biretta and the cardinal’s ring. The ceremony will be followed by a traditional “courtesy visit” to the Vatican, which will allow citizens to greet the new cardinals.

Next, on Monday and Tuesday, there will be a meeting with cardinals from around the world, whom the Argentine pontiff wanted to bring together to discuss the new “Constitution” of the Vatican, which came into force in June, and the future of the Church.

Jorge Bergoglio recently accelerated reforms of the Curia and its finances to introduce greater transparency.