Pope Francis Elevates 21 Priests to Cardinal Rank, Including Two from Kerala

Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad, a 51-year-old priest based in the Vatican and part of Kerala’s Syro-Malabar Archdiocese, was among 21 priests newly elevated to the rank of cardinal. The Church announced this promotion on Sunday. Koovakad, responsible for organizing Pope Francis‘ international travels since 2020, is set to be formally inducted on December 8 during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Pope Francis has significantly increased the size of the College of Cardinals by appointing 21 new cardinals, marking the largest group of voting cardinals added during his 11-year papacy. Noteworthy additions include 99-year-old Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, the oldest new cardinal who is beyond voting age, and 44-year-old Bishop Mykola Bychok, now the youngest cardinal and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, a nod to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The consistory, scheduled for December 8, will be the pope’s 10th such event for naming new cardinals. It will include prelates from key dioceses and archdioceses in South America, such as Vicente Bokalic Iglic from Argentina and Jaime Spengler from Brazil. North America’s sole new cardinal is the archbishop of Toronto, Francis Leo.

Receiving cardinal red hats are officials with non-customary roles, such as Rev Fabio Baggio in charge of the Vatican’s migration section, and Rev George Jacob Koovakad organizing the pope’s trips abroad. Rev Timothy Radcliffe, an advisor in the Vatican’s synod discussions, also earned a cardinal appointment.

In response to the appointments, Church historian Prof Christopher Bellitto observed this as Francis extending representation within the Church’s decision-making ranks. He noted that Francis has largely shaped the voting cardinals for the next papal conclave, with 92 of them being his appointees, compared to 24 by Pope Benedict XVI and six by Pope John Paul II.

Ukraine’s political climate features in the appointment of Bishop Mykola Bychok, providing a subtle message during the ongoing conflict. Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, expressed approval despite the selection of an Australian-based instead of a Kyiv-based Ukrainian leader.