Words of the Holy Father
Brief biographies of the Cardinals to be created
During today’s Regina Coeli, the Holy Father Francis announced a Consistory for the creation of new cardinals. The following are the Pope’s words:
Words of the Holy Father
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am glad to announce that on 29 June I will hold a Consistory for the appointment of fourteen new cardinals. Their origins express the universality of the Church, who continues to announce God’s merciful love to all men on earth.
Moreover, the insertion of the new cardinals in the diocese of Rome, expresses the inseparable link between the See of Peter and the particular Churches throughout the world.
These are the names of the new cardinals:
1. His Beatitude Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans;
2. H.E. Msgr. Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
3. H.E. Msgr. Angelo De Donatis, vicar general of Rome;
4. H.E. Msgr. Giovanni Angelo Becciu, substitute for the General Affairs of the Secretariat of State and special delegate to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta;
5. H.E. Msgr. Konrad Krajewski, apostolic almoner;
6. H.E. Msgr. Joseph Coutts, archbishop of Karachi;
7. H.E. Msgr. António dos Santos Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fátima;
8. H.E. Msgr. Pedro Barreto, archbishop of Huancayo;
9. H.E. Msgr. Desiré Tsarahazana, archbishop of Toamasina;
10. H.E. Msgr. Giuseppe Petrocchi, archbishop of L’Aquila;
11. H.E. Msgr. Thomas Aquinas Manyo, archbishop of Osaka.
Along with them, I will join with the members of the College of Cardinals an archbishop, a bishop and a religious who are distinguished for their service to the Church:
12. H.E. Msgr. Sergio Obeso Rivera, archbishop emeritus of Xalapa;
13. H.E. Msgr. Toribio Ticona Porco, prelate emeritus of Corocoro; and
14. Rev. Fr. Aquilino Bocos Merino, Claretian.
Let us pray for the new cardinals, so that, confirming their following of Christ, merciful and faithful Supreme Priest (cf. Heb 2: 17), they may help me in my ministry as bishop of Rome for the good of all the faithful Holy People of God.
Brief biographies of the Cardinals to be created
1. His Beatitude Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans
He was born in Zākhō, Iraq, on 4 July 1948.
He completed his primary studies in Mosul, and then attended the local Saint Jean’s Seminary, held by the Dominican Fathers.
He was ordained a priest on 1 June 1974, and carried out his pastoral service at the Cathedral of Mosul until 1979.
He was sent to Rome, where he attended the Pontifical Oriental Institute, obtaining a doctorate in Eastern patrology. He subsequently obtained a doctorate in history from the Sorbonne in Paris. From 1997 to 2002 he held the office of rector of the Patriarchal Seminary in Baghdad. Upon returning to Mosul he guided the parish of Perpetual Help until his election as archbishop of Kerkūk on 27 September 2003.
He received episcopal ordination the following 14 November.
On 31 January 2013, during the Synod convened in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI after the resignation of the Patriarch His Beatitude Cardinal Delly, he was elected Patriarch, receiving the Ecclesiastical Communio from the same Supreme Pontiff on 1 February; rendered public with the Eucharistic Celebration in the Vatican Basilica on 4 February.
He has published books on the Church Fathers, and numerous articles.
In addition to Arabic and Chaldean, he knows German and speaks French, English and Italian.
2. H.E. Msgr. Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
He was born in Manacor, diocese of Mallorca, Spain, on 19 April 19, 1944.
He graduated in law from the University of Madrid in 1966 and entered the Society of Jesus on 17 October 1966.
He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, and at the Philosophisch-theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen, Frankfurt am Main.
He received priestly ordination on 29 July 1973, and obtained a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1975.
Since 1975, he has served as professor of dogmatic theology at the Comillas Pontifical University of Madrid; since 1984 he has been a professor of dogmatic theology at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University and vice-rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University from 1986 to 1994. He was a member of the International Theological Commission from 1992 to 1997, consulter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 1995, and secretary general of the International Theological Commission since 2004.
On 9 July he was appointed as secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
On 1 July 2017 he was appointed as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, the Pontifical Biblical Commission and the International Theological Commission.
3. H.E. Msgr. Angelo De Donatis, vicar general of Rome
He was born on 4 January 1954 in Casarano, province of Lecce and diocese of Nardò‑Gallipoli, Italy.
He studied first in the seminary of Taranto and then at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, completing his philosophical studies at the Pontifical Lateran University and his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a licentiate in moral theology.
He was ordained a priest on 12 April 1980 for the diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli and from 28 November 1983 he was incardinated in the diocese of Rome.
During his ministry he has held the following offices: from 1980 to 1983, collaborator in the parish of San Saturnino and teacher of religion; from 1983 to 1988, vicar of the same parish; from 1988 to 1990, clerk of the General Secretariat of the Vicariate and vicar in the parish of the Santissima Annunziata in Grotta Perfetta; from 1989 to 1991, archivist of the secretariat of the College of Cardinals; from 1990 to 1996, director of the Clergy Office of the Vicariate of Rome; from 1990 to 2003, spiritual director at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary; since 2003, parish priest of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio and assistant for the diocese of Rome of the National Clergy Family Association.
He has served as a member of the diocesan presbyteral council and of the college of consulters.
In 1989 he was admitted to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem with the rank of Knight.
During Lent 2014 he held the meditations for the Spiritual Exercises of the Roman Curia.
He was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Rome, with the titular see of Mottola, on 14 September 2015.
On 26 May 2017 he was appointed as vicar general for the diocese of Rome.
4. H.E. Msgr. Giovanni Angelo Becciu, substitute for the General Affairs of the Secretariat of State and special delegate to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
He was born in Pattada, Sassari, Italy, on 2 June 1948.
He was ordained a priest on 27 August 1972 and incardinated in Ozieri, Sardinia.
He graduated in canon law, and on 1 May 1984 he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See, later serving in the Pontifical Representations in the Central African Republic, Sudan, New Zealand, Liberia, Great Britain, France and the United States of America.
On 15 October 2001, the Holy Father John Paul II appointed him as apostolic nuncio in Angola, elevating him at the same time to the see of Roselle, with the dignity of archbishop.
On 15 November of the same year he was also nominated as apostolic nuncio in São Tomé and Principe.
He received episcopal consecration on 1 December 2001.
On 23 July 2009, the Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed him as apostolic nuncio in Cuba until 2011.
On 10 May 2011 the Pope appointed him as substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. On 15 June of the same year he was appointed as consulter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
On 4 February 2017, the Holy Father appointed him as special delegate to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
5. H.E. Msgr. Konrad Krajewski, apostolic almoner
He was born in Łódź, Poland, on 25 November 1963.
After his high school studies, he entered the diocesan seminary of Łódź in 1982. On 11 June 1988, after obtaining a degree in theology from the Catholic University of Lublin, he was ordained a priest.
For two years he carried out pastoral work in his diocese as parish vicar, first in Rusiec and then in Łódź. In 1990 he was sent to Rome to continue his studies at the Saint Anselmo Liturgical Institute. On 5 March 1993 he obtained a licentiate in sacred liturgy from the same Liturgical Institute and on 10 March 1995 a degree in theology, with specialization in liturgy, from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas.
During his stay in Rome, he collaborated with the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff and was Chaplain of the “La Sapienza” University Orthopedic and Traumatological Clinic.
He returned to his diocese in 1995, was master of ceremonies for the Archbishop and taught liturgy in the diocesan seminary and in the Franciscan and Salesian Seminary, as well as in the Warsaw Academy, having also been appointed prefect of the diocesan Seminary.
In 1998 he returned to Rome and was appointed by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.
On May 12, 1999 he was appointed as Papal master of ceremonies.
On 3 August 2013 he was appointed as Almoner of His Holiness and titular archbishop of Benevento.
6. H.E. Msgr. Joseph Coutts, archbishop of Karachi
He was born on 21 July 1945 in Amristar, in the diocese of Jullundur, India.
He was ordained a priest on 9 January 1971 for the clergy of Lahore.
He was elected as coadjutor bishop of Hyderabad, Pakistan, on 5 May 1988 and was consecrated on 16 September of the same year. He became bishop of Hyderabad on 1 September 1990.
He was later transferred to Faisalabad (27 June 1998) and elevated to the metropolitan see of Karachi on 25 January 2012.
He served as president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference from 2011 until the end of 2017.
7. H.E. Msgr. António dos Santos Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fátima
He was born on 5 May 1947 in the municipality of Chaves, in the diocese of Vila Real, Portugal.
After completing his preparatory studies in the minor seminary of Vila Real, he attended courses in philosophy and theology at the Catholic University of Portugal, as a student at the major seminary in Porto.
In 1978, he obtained a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
On 7 November 1971 he received priestly ordination, and was incardinated in the clergy of Vila Real.
After his return from Rome, he remained in the city of Porto, as professor of theology at the Catholic University. He was also prefect of discipline of the major seminary of Porto and head of seminarians for the diocese of Vila Real.
He was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Braga on 10 November 2000, and received episcopal ordination on 11 February 2001.
On 22 April 2004 he was appointed as bishop of Viseu.
On 22 April 2006 he was appointed as bishop of Leiria-Fátima.
8. H.E. Msgr. Pedro Barreto, archbishop of Huancayo
He was born in Lima, Peru on 12 February 1944.
He followed secondary courses as an aspirant for religious life in the Jesuit novitiate in Lima. He completed his philosophical studies at the Faculty of the Society of Jesus in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, and his theological studies at the Pontifical and Civil Faculty of Lima. He obtained the title of Educador from the Champagnat Pedagogical Institute of Lima.
He was ordained a priest on 18 December 1971 and gave his perpetual vows on 3 October 1976.
As a priest he has held the following offices: assistant to the master of novices, professor and spiritual director of the Cristo Rey College in Tacna; parish priest and superior of the Community of Tacna; head of vocational pastoral ministry for the province; spiritual director of the Francisco Javier College of Lima; superior of the novitiate, pastor and superior of the Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados Community in Lima, member of the provincial and consultor of the province, parish priest and superior of the Community of Ayacucho and, finally, parish priest and superior of the Community of Tarma.
On 9 November 2001 he was appointed as vicar apostolic of Jaén and titular bishop of Acufida, and on 1 January 2002 he received episcopal ordination.
On 17 July 2004 he was appointed as archbishop of Huancayo.
9. H.E. Msgr. Desiré Tsarahazana, archbishop of Toamasina
He was born in Amboangibe, Madagascar, on 13 June 1954 and was ordained a priest on 28 September 1986.
Following ordination he held the offices of vicar at Mananara-Nord, rector of the preparatory seminary and teacher at the minor seminary.
From 1993 to 1999 he was secretary coordinator of the priests of Antsiranana. He obtained a licentiate in theology from the University of Antananarivo. He carried out specialization studies in theology at the Catholic University of Lyon, France.
He was appointed as bishop of Fenoarivo Atsinanana on 30 October 2000 and consecrated on 18 February 2001; he transferred to the then diocese of Toamasina on 24 November 2008 and elevated to archbishop of the same See on 26 February 2010.
From 2006 to 2012 he was vice president of the C.E.M. and, since 2012, president, confirmed in 2015.
10. H.E. Msgr. Giuseppe Petrocchi, archbishop of L’Aquila
He was born in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, on 19 August 1948.
He entered the Episcopal Seminary of Ascoli Piceno in 1965 and completed his high school studies at the classical lyceum.
He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a licentiate in dogmatic theology. He obtained two degrees at the State University: the first in philosophy in Macerata and the second in psychology in Rome.
He knows French, English, German and Spanish.
He was ordained a priest on 14 September 1973 in Ascoli Piceno, the diocese where he was incardinated.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: head of the diocesan Youth Ministry (1973-1975); professor of Religion at the Liceo Scientifico Orsini of Ascoli Piceno (1973-1978); director of the vocational diocesan centre (1975-1985); professor of philosophy, pedagogy and psychology at the Trebbiani Magistral Institute of Ascoli Piceno and later at the Stabili Pedagogic High School (1978-1997); parish priest in Cerreto di Venarotta (1980-1985); parish priest in Trisungo (1985-1998); editor-in-chief of the diocesan Bulletin (1991-1998); psychologist at the Diocesan Family Counselling Centre and teacher at the diocesan School of Theology (1995-1998).
From 1973 to 1998 he worked intensively in the diocese in the field of youth and family ministry.
On 27 June 1998 he was elected to the episcopal See of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno, receiving episcopal ordination the following 20 September.
On 8 June 2013 he was appointed as archbishop of L’Aquila.
11. H.E. Msgr. Thomas Aquinas Manyo, archbishop of Osaka
He was born on 3 March 1949 in Tsuwasaki, Kami-Goto, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.
After completing his studies at the Nanzan Lyceum in Nagasaki, he entered the Saint Sulpitius Major Seminary in Fukuoka.
He was ordained on 19 March 1975 and incardinated in the diocese of Nagasaki.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following positions: parish vicar, parish priest; editor of the diocesan Bulletin and head of the diocesan Commission for Social Communications, and vicar forane.
He served as secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan from 2006 until his episcopal election.
On 23 September 2011 he was consecrated as bishop of Hiroshima.
On 20 August 2014, the Holy Father Francisco appointed him as archbishop of Osaka.
Since 2016 he has served as vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan.
12. H.E. Msgr. Sergio Obeso Rivera, archbishop emeritus of Xalapa
He was born in Xalapa, Mexico on 31 October 1931.
After completing his humanistic studies he was sent to Rome where he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University, obtaining a doctorate in theology.
He was ordained a priest on 31 October 1954.
After returning to Mexico he spent seventeen years in various positions at the seminary (prefect of philosophy, theology, spiritual director and finally rector).
On 30 April 1971 he was elected to the episcopal See of Papantla, receiving episcopal ordination on 29 July.
On 18 January 1974 he was appointed as titular archbishop of Uppenna, and coadjutor with right to succession for the archdiocese of Xalapa. On 12 March 1979 he became archbishop of Xalapa.
On 18 November 1982 he was elected as president of the Episcopal Conference of Mexico for two terms. In 1995 he was elected for the third time.
On 10 April 2007, his Holiness Benedict XVI accepted his resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Xalapa upon reaching the age limit.
13. H.E. Msgr. Toribio Ticona Porco, prelate emeritus of Corocoro
He was born in Atocha, Bolivia, on 25 April 1937.
Before entering the seminary, he worked as a miner to help support his family. He studied philosophy and theology in the seminary of Sucre and was ordained a priest on 29 January 1967, at the age of 30, for the prelature of Corocoro.
He completed his complementary studies at the CELAM Pastoral Institute and the two-year Catechetical Pastoral course at the Lumen Vitae Centre in Brussels.
On 31 May 1986 he was ordained as titular bishop of Timice and auxiliary of Potosí.
On 4 June 1992 he was transferred as bishop prelate of Corocoro.
In addition to Spanish and Quechua, in Corocoro he learned all the languages spoken in the prelature.
On 29 July 2012, His Holiness Benedict XVI accepted his resignation from the pastoral care of the prelature.
14. Rev. Fr. Aquilino Bocos Merino, Claretian
He was born on 17 May 1938 in Canillas de Esgueva, Valladolid, Spain.
He completed his studies at the seminaries of the Claretian Missionaries.
He gave his religious profession in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1963.
He graduated in philosophy from the Pontifical University of Salamanca, and holds a diploma in clinical psychology.
During his ministry he has held the following positions: from 1964 to 1967, spiritual director of the Colegio Mayor Maronita in Salamanca; from 1967 to 1980, spiritual director of the Claretian Theologate, and professor in various educational centres of the Congregation; director of the Vida Religiosa Magazine; co-founder of the Theological Institute of Religious Life in Madrid and director of the Regina Apostolorum School; from 1980 to 1985 he was elected as provincial superior of the Claretian Missionaries of Castilla. From 1985 to 1991, he served as general counsellor of the Claretian Missionaries. In 1991 he was elected as superior general of the Claretians for two terms. During this time he participated as a member of the Union of Superiors General (for two terms).
In 1994 he participated in the Synod for Consecrated Life; in the Second Special Meeting for the Synod of Europe (1999) and in the Eleventh Meeting of the Synod of Bishops (2002).
From 1994 to 2004 he was commissioned to participate as a member of the Congregation for Consecrated Life.
He has published several books and articles for numerous magazines.
