Cardinal-elect Brislin: The position of a cardinal is about serving

By Sr. Nina Benedikta Krapić, VMZ

The Holy Father will celebrate a consistory for the appointment of 21 new cardinals on Saturday, 30 September 2023, at the Vatican. The new cardinals come from all over the world. Prior to the consistory, the new cardinals met with the press on 28 September, at the Holy See Press Office.

Stephen Brislin, archbishop of Cape Town in South Africa, is one of the newly elected cardinals. He spoke to Vatican News, saying he was very shocked by the news of his appointment as cardinal. “I will try to be of service”, he said.

Cardinal Brislin was born Sept. 25, 1956, in Welkom. He studied Philosophy at St John Vianney, Pretoria, and Theology at the London Missionary Institute. He was ordained a priest in 1983. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Kroonstad, South Africa, and he was ordained Jan. 28, 2007. On Dec. 18, 2009, he was elected archbishop of Cape Town. He also served as president of the South African Bishops' Conference.

It's about serving

Speaking to Vatican News, cardinal Brislin highlighted that the role of a cardinal is about serving.

“Pope Francis has really made that a very important point, it's not about an honour or a privilege it's about serving the Church and serving God's kingdom. I will try to faithfully do that as best I can, but I've got a lot to learn”, says cardinal Brislin.

The new cardinal announces that he will fallow the footsteps of his predecessor cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier. “I would like to very much continue what he has done over the years, because he's really served the church very, very well”, says cardinal Brislin, explaining that his priorities will be focused on “the dignity of life and the need to protect life through every stage, from the womb to the tomb.”

Poverty and corruption affecting human dignity

Cardinal Brislin warns that human dignity is often not respected.

“In South Africa, for example, it's not only about abortion, but it's also about the incredible poverty and the squalor in which people are forced to live. And it is these things that the church must conscientize people about”, urges Brislin.

As one of the possible directions he points out is bringing the sense of ethics to corrupted areas.

“We're facing enormous corruption in South Africa at every level. It's not just political, it's within business, even within churches. And the ultimate reason for this, the root cause, is a lack of ethics and a vacuum of spirituality and that is really the space that the church should be occupying”, explains Bruslin.

Consistory on 30th September

The Holy Father will celebrate a consistory for the appointment of the 21 new cardinals on Saturday, 30 September at the Vatican. The newly elected cardinals come from all over the world.

 “Where they come from expresses the universality of the Church, which continues to proclaim the merciful love of God to all people of the earth", announced Pope Francis.