28 November: an unprecedented Consistory in times of Covid-19

By Vatican News staff writer

Coronavirus will not stop the Consistory, but it will change its modus operandi opening the process to digital technology that will allow those who cannot travel to Rome to participate in the ceremony.

In a statement on Monday, the director of the Holy See Press Office noted that on 28 November 2020, not all the Cardinals-designate chosen by Pope Francis will be present, in person, to receive their red hats.

Matteo Bruni said that Cardinal-designate Cornelius Sim, the Apostolic Vicar of Brunei, and Cardinal-designate Jose F. Advincula of Capiz, in the Philippines, would not be able to attend the Consistory in the Vatican because of travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. 

A precedent of sorts was set on 22 February 2014 when Cardinal Loris Francesco Capovilla received a dispensation and did not attend the Consistory due to age and ill health. He was named Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere, and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, bestowed the biretta and cardinal’s ring upon Capovilla on the following 1 March.

Linked to St Peter's Basilica 

But Cardinals Sim and Advincula will join the celebration, participating remotely from their dioceses, through a digital platform that will allow them to connect with St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Press Office director also said that a representative of Pope Francis would present them with the red hat – the “biretta” – the cardinal’s ring and title connected with a Roman parish “at a time to be decided later".

He added that existing members of the College of Cardinals who are unable to travel to Rome for the Consistory would be able to follow the ceremony via a livestream. 

Small congregation and no congratulatory visits

The ordinary public Consistory for the creation of new cardinals will take place on Saturday afternoon at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, with a limited congregation. Each new Cardinal will only be allowed to bring a few guests or family members.

What’s more, they will not follow the custom of receiving well-wishers in the Apostolic Palace and in the Paul VI Hall after the ceremony.

The new Cardinals will concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, 29 November.

The Consistory

The Pope announced the Consistory for the creation of the 13 new Cardinals on 25 October. They include Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington; Maltese Bishop Mario Grech; Archbishop Celestino Aós Braco of Santiago, Chile; Archbishop Antoine Kambanda of Kigali, Rwanda; Cornelius Sim, the Apostolic Vicar of Brunei, Jose F. Advincula of Capiz, Philippines.

The Italian names on the list are those of Archbishop Augusto Paolo Lojudice; Fra Mauro Gambetti, Custos of the Sacred Convent of Assisi; Bishop Marcello Semeraro; Capuchin Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher to the Papal Household since 1980.

Alongside Cantalamessa, the Pope has also named three others who will receive the biretta but will be unable to vote in Conclaves because they are over 80 years of age. They are Bishop Emeritus Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico; Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi, Permanent Observer Emeritus to the United Nations Office and Specialized Agencies in Geneva; and Msgr. Enrico Feroci, parish priest of Santa Maria del Divino Amore in Rome.

Article updated on 25 November 2020