The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, will create his first batch of cardinals from various parts of the world including the Philippines’ Archbishop of Cotabato Orlando Quevedo.
The total of 19 cardinals from the around world comprised nine from South America, Africa and Asia. The new cardinals also known as “princess of the Church” will be presented with scarlet-red birettas and gold rings at a grandiose ceremony in Vatican City.
Archbishop Orlando Quevedo (Photo Credit: Inquirer)
The Catholic celebration will be a grandiose ceremony at the historic St. Peter’s Basilica at the heart of the Vatican City, one of the wealthiest city-state in the world under the leadership of Pope Francis.
The selection of nine cardinals from South America, Africa and Asia, according to some Vatican observers will surely help correct a perceived bias towards European Cardinals, the dominant group in the Roman Catholic leadership.
Aside from being non-European cardinals named as first cardinals in the leadership of Pope Francis, sixteen of the 19 cardinals are under the age of 80 and can therefore take part in the secretive conclave that elects new popes from among their ranks.
Non-European cardinals includes five cardinals from North America, two Africans and two Asian cardinals.