Pope Francis, Saturday, promoted Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the first African- American and 12 new Cardinals to be admitted among the so-called Princes of the Church.
Gregory, who turns 73 next month, leads an archdiocese rocked by the scandal of Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop who was defrocked last year after being ousted as a serial sexual predator.
In June, Gregory made headlines after criticizing outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump for turning a visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine as “a photo opportunity.”
He and other cardinals-elect were given the red hats and rings that come with their titles in a service led by the pope in St Peter’s Basilica.
In his homily, Francis warned the new cardinals against falling into corruption or using their new rank for personal advancement, saying that just because they have a new title, “Eminence,” doesn’t mean they should drift from their people.
His comments reflected Francis’ constant complaint about the arrogance of the clerical class, as well as his current battles to fight corruption in the Vatican hierarchy.
“Let’s think of so many types of corruption in the life of the priesthood,” Francis told the new cardinals, deviating from his prepared text. If they think of themselves so grandly, “you won’t be pastors close to the people, you’ll just be ‘Eminence.’ And if you feel this way, you’ll have strayed off the road,” the pope warned.
The ceremony, known as a consistory, is the seventh of Francis’ pontificate and once again reflected the Argentine pope’s effort to name Cardinals from places that have never had them before or whose service to the church he wants to highlight.
Nine are under age 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope, further solidifying the majority of Francis-appointed, voting-age prelates in the College of Cardinals.
Two of the 13 new cardinals in the ceremony, known as a consistory, both based in Asia, missed the ceremony because of Coronavirus travel restrictions.
The Apostolic Vicar of Brunei, Cornelius Sim, and the Archbishop of Capiz in the Philippines, Jose Fuerte Advincula would be appointed in absentia, the Vatican said earlier this week. Their red hats and rings would be sent by special papal envoys, according to The Vatican News.
Because of pandemic risks, the audience at the consistory was a much reduced number of around 200 guests and cardinals. Also, a customary hug between cardinals was forfeited. Some guests joined the event via video link.
The main role cardinals have in the church is to elect popes in a conclave, a closed-door summit. Only those under 80 years old took part, and nine of the new appointees met the requirement.
