Vatican City (Fides Service) – Tomorrow 21 October at 10.30 am Pope John Paul II will hold an Ordinary Public Consistory in St Peter’s Square for the creation of thirty new Cardinals, one of them in pectore. It will be the 9th Consistory in his Pontificate.
On Wednesday 22 October at 10.30am in St Peter’s Square the Pope will preside a solemn Mass during which he will consign the cardinal’s ring to the new Cardinals who will concelebrate with him.
According to geographical regions the new cardinals come from the following parts of the world: 18 in Europe (Italy; France; Spain, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary 1); 5 in America (Mexico; United States, Canada, Guatemala, Brazil); 3 in Africa (Nigeria, Sudan, Ghana); 3 from Asia (Japan, India, Vietnam) 1 in Oceania (Australia). The last Public Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals was held in 2001 when 42 new cardinals were created (the highest number ever). In 8 Consistories John Paul II ha created a total of 201 Cardinals. (S.L.) (Fides Service 20/10/2003 – lines 14; words 180)