(Vatican Radio) One of the first names Pope Francis pronounced when he announced 17 new cardinals was that of the Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus , Archbishop Mario Zenari , who – even after the Consistory of 19 November – will stay in his current post so he can continue to be close to the suffering people of Syria.
Cardinal designate Zenari spoke to Vatican Radio soon after learning of his nomination, his voice trembling with emotion:
“For me it was an emotional moment… It was a surprise! I sincerely thank the Holy Father, because this purple (gown) is for Syria, for the victims of Syria, for all those who suffer because of this terrible war. It’s for these people, for the many children who are suffering, for the many poor people who are paying the consequences of this tremendous conflict” he said.
Zenari says Pope Francis pronounces very strong messages regarding the situation in Syria and he says – in this case – by creating a Cardinal who is a Nuncio in the country, he is saying something very strong: “it is almost a warning”.
Zenari, who for many years has committed himself to seeking peace for the ravaged nation describes himself as a simple and humble person. He hopes – he says – that this nomination by Pope Francis is received as a signal and “used as much as possible”.
He says his commitment continues “encouraged and fortified” by the Pope’s support:
“This sign of closeness on the part of the Pope will most certainly produce some benefits as I pursue my mission” he said.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The recently appointed Prefect for the Pontifical Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life is one of the 17 men who will receive a red hat in the Vatican during the next Consistory.
Bishop Kevin J. Farrell was nominated by Pope Francis to become a new Cardinal during the Consistory on 19 November in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Bishop Farrell just left Dallas on October 6th to take up residence in Rome where he will serve as the new Prefect for the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. He had served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas since March of 2007.
Immediately after learning the news of his appointment, Bishop Farrell said in a statement:
“I am humbled by the news this morning that our Holy Father Pope Francis has named me to the College of Cardinals. I ask all in the Diocese of Dallas to please pray for me that I may to the best of my ability fulfill this sacred duty to our Church.”
Meanwhile, the Apostolic Administrator in the Diocese of Dallas, Bishop Greg Kelly announced the news to the priests of the Diocese saying, “It is with great joy that I share the news that Bishop Farrell will be made a cardinal in the next Vatican consistory on November 19, 2016. Please pray for him during this important moment in his priesthood and let us once again thank God for his nine years of service here with us.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin is asking for prayers as he prepares to be installed in the College of Cardinals in November.
The Archbishop of Indianapolis is one of the 17 nominated by Pope Francis to become a new Cardinal during the Consistory on 19 November in St. Peter’s Basilica.
A statement was released immediately after the announcement on Sunday by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
The statement also carries a message from the Archbishop himself:
“Early this morning I learned that Pope Francis had appointed me to the College of Cardinals. I will formally be installed in that service in a ceremony in Rome next month. I will continue as the Archbishop of Indianapolis. I have come to love deeply the people of the Catholic communities of central and southern Indiana and count as a precious blessing the numerous friendships I have with civic and religious leaders throughout the state. I ask all people of faith to pray for me. I hope this new responsibility will make me a better servant of all Hoosiers. I also offer my prayers and support to the other Cardinals-elect, especially Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago and Archbishop Kevin Farrell, of Dallas, who was recently appointed to a new position in Rome.”
Please find below a biography of Cardinal-designate Joseph W. Tobin:
The Most Reverend Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., was appointed Archbishop of Indianapolis by Pope Benedict XVI on October 18, 2012.
Before his appointment as Archbishop of Indianapolis, Archbishop Tobin served as the Archbishop Secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Archbishop Tobin, a Redemptorist priest, is a native of Detroit. He was born May 3, 1952 and is the oldest of 13 children. He was educated at Catholic schools. He studied at Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, Wis., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1975. He also studied at Mount Saint Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, N.Y., where he received a master’s degree in religious education in 1977 and a master of divinity degree in 1979.
Archbishop Tobin professed perpetual vows as a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) on August 21, 1976 and was ordained a priest on June 1, 1978. He was ordained an archbishop on October 9, 2010 in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome following his appointment on August 2, 2010 by Pope Benedict as the Archbishop Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
As Archbishop Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Archbishop Tobin worked in the Vatican to oversee the more than 1 million men and women in the world’s religious orders.
Archbishop Tobin has served as a parish priest in the inner city in Detroit and Chicago. As associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit from 1979 to 1984, Father Tobin was responsible for ministering to the Hispanic community.
He served as pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish from 1984 to 1990. He then served as pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Chicago from July 1990 until October 1991.
Archbishop Tobin served as General Consultor of the Redemptorist congregation from 1991 to 1997 and as its Superior General from 1997 to 2009. He was appointed by the Pope to five Synods of Bishops in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005 and 2008.
Archbishop Tobin has served as the Co-Chairman of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation since June 2013. He has also been a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Sub-committee on the Church in Africa since June 2013. He is the chairmen-elect of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations and will become chairman following the USCCB’s fall general assembly in 2016.
On March 29, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Tobin a member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) One of those designated by Pope Francis to become a new Cardinal during the Consistory on 19 November in St. Peter’s Basilica, is Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich .
A statement released by the Archdiocese of Chicago immediately after the announcement says that Archbishop Cupich was appointed to head the Chicago archdiocese, the nation’s third largest, by Pope Francis on September 20, 2014.
The statement also carries a message from the Archbishop himself:
“The news this morning that Pope Francis has named me to the College of Cardinals is both humbling and encouraging. I offer my best wishes to the other Cardinals-elect, especially Kevin Farrell and Joseph Tobin, and I look forward to joining with them and the other cardinals as we work together with the Holy Father for the good of the Church.”
“When Pope Francis appointed me Archbishop of Chicago more than two years ago, the people of the archdiocese welcomed me as a friend and brother and I committed wholeheartedly to serve them. The role of Cardinal brings new responsibilities, but with your prayers and help, we will continue the task we have begun of renewing the Church in the archdiocese and preparing it to thrive in the decades ahead.”
Please find below a biography of Archbishop Cupich :
Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich was born on March 19, 1949, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Blase and Mary (Mayhan) Cupich. He is the third of nine children, with five sisters and three brothers.
Archbishop Cupich was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Omaha on August 16, 1975. He was pastor of two large suburban parishes in Omaha. He was appointed Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 7, 1998, and was ordained and installed on September 21, 1998. He was appointed the sixth Bishop of Spokane, Washington, on June 30, 2010, and officially installed on September 3, 2010. Archbishop Cupich was appointed Archbishop of Chicago on September 20, 2014, and was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Chicago on Tuesday, November 18, 2014.
Archbishop Cupich obtained his B.A. in Philosophy from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1971. He attended seminary at the North American College and Gregorian University in Rome, where he received his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 1974, and his M.A. in Theology in 1975. Archbishop Cupich is a graduate of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where, in 1979, he received his Licentiate of Sacred Theology degree in Sacramental Theology. He also holds a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree as well as in Sacramental Theology, from the Catholic University of America, awarded in 1987, with his dissertation entitled: “Advent in the Roman Tradition: An Examination and Comparison of the Lectionary Readings as Hermeneutical Units in Three Periods.”
Additionally, Archbishop Cupich served as a secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. He was also the Chair for the USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People from 2008-2011 and for the National Catholic Educational Association Board from 2006-2008.
On July 7, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Cupich to the Congregation for Bishops.
Archbishop Cupich also serves on many committees, including: the USCCB Communications Committee; the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, National Dialogue Initiative with Muslims, Co-Chair; the USCCB Subcommittee for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, Chair; Catholic Church Extension Society, Chancellor; and The Catholic Mutual Relief Society, Executive Member. He is also Chancellor of the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday greeted members of the General Assembly of the Pallotine Fathers.
Pope Francis spoke of the charism of St. Vincent Pallotti, who founded the order in Rome in 1835, saying he was “blessed to recognize that Jesus is the Apostle of the Father – rich in mercy and full of mercy – [Christ] is the one who fulfills his mission by revealing to everyone the tender love and the infinite mercy of the Father.”
“Contemplating the life of Jesus and looking at our life as pilgrims in this world with its many challenges, we feel the necessity of a profound conversion and the urgency of reviving faith in Him,” – Pope Francis said – “This is the only way we can serve our neighbor in charity! Every day we are called to renew our trust in Christ and from his life draw inspiration to fulfill our mission because ‘Jesus is the first and greatest evangelizer. In every activity of evangelization, the primacy always belongs to God, who has called us to cooperate with him and who leads us on by the power of his Spirit.’” [ Evangelii gaudium, 12 ).
The Holy Father urged the Pallotine Fathers to “continue with joy and hope on your path, engaging yourselves with all your heart and all your strength, so the charism of your Founder bears abundant fruit also in our time.”
“St. Vincent Pallotti liked to repeat that the call of the apostolate is not reserved to some, but is addressed to everyone, ‘regardless of their status, their condition, their profession, their fortune, all are able to take part,’” Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis then spoke of the Union of Catholic Apostolate (UAC), which fosters apostolic works in dioceses around the world. The UAC was also founded by St. Vincent Pallotti, and is under the pastoral care of the Pallotine Fathers.
The Pope said the apostolate “offers many spaces and opens new horizons to participate in the mission of the Church,” adding he was familiar with the UAC during his time in Argentina, and has fond memories of them.
Pope Francis called on them to work with “renewed vigour to reawaken faith and rekindle charity, especially among the most vulnerable segments of the population, the materially and spiritually poor.”
(from Vatican Radio)…