Pope Francis led a special ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, where he installed 21 new Catholic cardinals, even though he had a large bruise on his chin. The Vatican explained that the injury happened when Pope Francis accidentally hit his chin on his bedside table the morning before.
Despite this, Pope Francis, who is about to turn 88, appeared to be in good health and spirit. He led the important ceremony to elevate church leaders from 17 different countries into the College of Cardinals, a group of senior churchmen who will one day help choose the next pope when Pope Francis’s time ends.
The bruise on Pope Francis’s face was visible around his chin and neck, but he did not let it affect his duties during the ceremony. The Vatican said the pope had a minor fall, which caused the bruise, but he was otherwise okay.
Pope’s Health and Leadership
Pope Francis, who became pope in 2013, has faced some health challenges in recent years. He now uses a wheelchair because of pain in his knees and back, but he still continues to perform his duties with strength and dedication.
The cardinals are some of the highest-ranking members of the Catholic Church, next to the pope. When the pope dies or resigns, cardinals under 80 years old will gather to elect the next pope. Pope Francis has now appointed about 80% of the cardinals who will take part in this important decision.
A More Inclusive Church
Pope Francis has worked hard to make the College of Cardinals more diverse, meaning people from many different countries and cultures are represented. Before he became pope, there were fewer than 50 countries with cardinals eligible to vote in choosing the pope. Today, that number has grown to 67 countries.
The new cardinals come from countries around the world, including Peru, Argentina, Japan, the Philippines, Algeria, India, and Serbia. This is a sign of Pope Francis’s focus on making the Catholic Church a more global and inclusive place.
Words of Unity
During the ceremony, Pope Francis gave an inspiring speech, telling the new cardinals that they must be “witnesses of fraternity, artisans of communion, and builders of unity.” This means they should work together to bring people closer and spread kindness and understanding.
Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, one of the new cardinals from Abidjan in Ivory Coast, praised the pope for his efforts to make the College of Cardinals more diverse. He said, “Having cardinals from every part of the world truly translates the universality of the Church.”
Geographical Diversity in the College of Cardinals
While Italy still has the most cardinals, the number of cardinals from other countries has grown. For example, the archbishops of Turin and Naples in Italy were among the new cardinals, but so were others from places like Belgium, Iran, and Ukraine.
The new appointments reflect Pope Francis’s vision for a church that listens to people from all walks of life and all parts of the world.
