Pope Francis Looks To The ‘Peripheries’ For Latest Batch Of Cardinals

One hails from Tonga, where climate change is threatening the very existence of the archipelago. Several live in places tormented by drug violence and organized crime. Another represents a tiny, remote church that has witnessed firsthand the deadly drama of Mediterranean migration.

The 20 men from 18 countries who will join the College of Cardinals on Saturday reflect the far-flung diversity of the Catholic Church. But they also represent unity in living out some of Pope Francis’ core concerns — and will bring that experience to bear when they eventually elect his successor.

Francis will formally elevate the new cardinals at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica in the second such consistory of his pontificate. Like the first, Francis looked to the “peripheries” for new cardinals, giving countries that have never before had one — Tonga, Myanmar and Cape Verde — representation at the highest level of the Catholic Church.

Francis also looked to the peripheries in Italy, once again ignoring big archdioceses like Venice and Turin that have traditionally had a cardinal, to instead elevate prelates from small and often overlooked Italian dioceses.

Latin America — home to nearly 40 percent of the world’s Catholics — stays roughly steady with about 16 percent, in a sign that the region’s first pope isn’t playing favorites.

For the second consistory in a row, no U.S. cardinal was named. The United States still has 11 voting-age cardinals.

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The Huffington Post