On September 30th, Pope Francis will hold a consistory for the creation of new Cardinals.

Watch the event on Salt + Light TV!

Saturday, September 30, 2023

10:00 am ET | 7:00 am PT

What is a consistory?

A consistory is an official meeting of all or some of the Cardinals, called by the Pope. The Cardinals, as a group, act as advisers to the Holy Father, who can call them together to consult on major issues facing the Church. Also, in order to create new Cardinals, he must issue a public decree in the presence of the other Cardinals. This will be Pope Francis' ninth consistory for the creation of new Cardinals.  

What will happen during the event?

Pope Francis, the Cardinals, and the Cardinals-elect will gather in St. Peter's Basilica for the ceremony. After words of greeting, a prayer, a reading from one of the Gospels, and Pope Francis' homily, the Holy Father will proclaim the names of the new Cardinals. It is from this moment that they actually become Cardinals. They will then make a Profession of Faith and take an oath of fidelity to the Church and to the Pope. They will then kneel before the Pope one at a time to receive from his hands the Cardinal's biretta (red hat) and Cardinal's ring. They will also be assigned a church in Rome, which is known as their "title" or "deaconry." This represents their role in assisting the Pope, who is the chief pastor of the city of Rome. After the Cardinals exchange the sign of peace with the Pope and each other, the ceremony ends with the Lord's Prayer. They will join the Pope at Holy Mass on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and the opening of the first General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality.  

Who are the new cardinals?

On Saturday, Pope Francis will make 21 new Cardinals from all over the world. In line with the Pope's commitment to building a Church that "goes to the margins," many of the Cardinals-elect are in Vatican diplomatic positions or from dioceses and countries that rarely receive the red hat. If you'd like more information on the Cardinals-elect, Vatican Media has compiled a series of short biographical entries. Of the new Cardinals, 18 are under the age of 80, and therefore currently eligible to vote in the next conclave:

Archbishop Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches

Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Archbishop Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nunzio to Italy and San Marino

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nunzio to the United States

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Archbishop Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Capetown

Archbishop Ángel Sixto Rossi, S.J., Archbishop of Córdoba

Archbishop Luis José Rueda Aparicio, Archbishop of Bogotá

Archbishop Grzegorz Rys, Archbishop of Lodz

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, Archbishop of Juba, received Pope Francis for his Pilgrimage of Peace to South Sudan

Archbishop José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid

Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, Coadjutor Archbishop of Tabora

Bishop Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang

Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, S.J., Bishop of Hong Kong

Bishop François-Xavier Bustillo, O.F.M. Conv., Bishop of Ajaccio

Bishop Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, led the organizing team for WYD 2023

Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., Rector Major of the Salesians

Pope Francis will also make three Cardinals in honour of their long service to the Church. They are above the eligible voting age.

Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, Secretary Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; served as Apostolic Nuncio to various countries

Archbishop Diego Rafael Padrón Sánchez, Archbishop Emeritus of Cumaná

Fr. Luis Pascual Dri, O.F.M. Cap., Confessor of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompei, Buenos Aires; the "confessor who forgave too much"

After Saturday's consistory, there will be 137 Cardinal-electors (although one turns 80 the next day), and 242 in total.