Big newsfrom the Vatican this morning:
Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich was awarded one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most prestigious titles next to the papacy Sunday, when Pope Francis announced in St. Peter’s Square Sunday that he will elevate Chicago’s church leader to the rank of cardinal. Cupich will receive his red hat in Rome Nov. 19, the day before the church’s Year of Mercy ends. The elevation means he will have a vote in future papal elections. Pope Francis elevated two others from the U.S. — Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin and Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell. Though this is the first time Francis has named American cardinals, it was no surprise to some that Cupich’s name was on the list unveiled Sunday. Chicago’s last six archbishops were named cardinals and Cupich’s star has been on the rise ever since he leapt to the third largest U.S. archdiocese from the diocese of Spokane, Wash. just two years ago.
Catholic News Agency has a complete list and notes:
In addition to the 13 new electoral cardinals, Francis has nominated three others who are of non-voting age due to their notable service to the Church: Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur; Renato Corti, Archbishop Emeritus of Novara and Fr Ernest Simoni, presbitero di Scutari, an Albanian priest from the diocese of Shkodra, who is a testimony of the persecution of the Albanian Church under the communist regime.
And today we celebrate...