College of Cardinals
Eyeing Catholic demographics, and maybe his successor, Pope Francis shakes up his cardinals
By Christopher Lamb — May 25, 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) By next month he will have made cardinals in 13 countries who’ve never had them before, including places such as the Pacific island of Tonga, Haiti, and Myanmar.
Pope Francis denounces growing ‘demonization’ of enemies and outsiders
By David Gibson — November 19, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff’s exhortation, at a ceremony to elevate 17 new cardinals, seemed to take aim at nationalist anger roiling countries around the world, including the U.S.
Pope Francis, the ultimate headhunter
By David Gibson — November 17, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Many of the 17 churchmen the pontiff will honor with a red hat on Saturday were as stunned as everyone else that they were chosen. That’s because Francis is his own executive search firm.
The ’Splainer: What’s a cardinal?
By David Gibson — November 15, 2016
(RNS) On Nov. 19 at the Vatican, Pope Francis will officially name – or “create,” as the Catholic Church prefers to say – 17 new cardinals. What is a cardinal anyway? Where did they come from? What do they do? Let us ‘Splain …
Pope Francis gives N.J. its first cardinal – and ups the ante on church reform
By David Gibson — November 7, 2016
(RNS) By moving Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin to Newark the pontiff ignored protocol – and showed he’s serious about changing how the Catholic Church operates.
Pope Francis’ cardinal choices bring surprises, especially for the US church
By David Gibson — October 10, 2016
(RNS) In giving red hats to U.S. churchmen for the first time, the pontiff passed over prelates favored by culture warriors of the right and chose more pastoral bishops. That's a big change.
Scandal-scarred Cardinal Keith O’Brien renounces ‘rights and privileges’ of his office
By David Gibson — March 20, 2015
(RNS) When Pope Benedict XVI accepted O'Brien's resignation, O'Brien admitted "there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.”
Two years in, Pope Francis faces headwinds in reforming the Vatican. Here’s how he can prevail
By David Gibson — March 9, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Transforming the dynamic of Vatican power is key to what Pope Francis considers his greater goal: reorienting Catholicism itself to face the new challenges of the third millennium.
Pope Francis to church: Don’t be a closed caste or afraid of outcasts
By David Gibson — February 15, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “For Jesus, what matters above all is reaching out to save those far off, healing the wounds of the sick, restoring everyone to God’s family," the pope said. "And this is scandalous to some people!”
Pope Francis tells new cardinals to be models of love, not brooding schemers
By David Gibson — February 14, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Avoid “that smoldering anger which makes us brood over wrongs we have received," Francis told the new princes of the church. “No! This is unacceptable in a man of the church."
Pope Francis diversifies his cardinals. But will they have clout where it counts?
By David Gibson — February 13, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “You see the function of cardinal, the position of a cardinal, is changing,” Cardinal-designate Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of Ethiopia said. “It's no more a big honorific task.”
Pope Francis wants ‘absolute transparency’ as he pushes Vatican reform
By David Gibson — February 12, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The overhaul is taking longer than expected and is still encountering resistance. But Francis is gathering 150 cardinals in Rome for two days to press ahead.
Want to see Pope Francis’ vision for the church? Look at his new cardinals
By Josephine McKenna — January 5, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican’s chief spokesman said the choices showed Pope Francis' most important criteria was "universality," and indicated he was not “chained to tradition.”
Pope Francis is naming new cardinals. Will any be American?
By David Gibson — December 11, 2014
(RNS) Pope Francis did not pick any Americans when he made his first batch of cardinals, and several U.S. cardinals are very close to 80.
Rome’s clergy tailors find a subdued mood under low-key Pope Francis
By Josephine McKenna — February 6, 2014
ROME (RNS) On the streets of the ecclesiastical fashion district in the center of Rome, the mood is somber. No one wants to criticize the much-loved Pope Francis, but his personal style, combined with the ongoing economic crisis, is having an impact on business.
