Cape Town, 10 July, 2023 / 9:47 pm (ACI Africa).
The naming of Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town in South Africa among 21 new Cardinals has been met with joy and happiness by members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC).
In a statement that the President of SACBC, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, issued Monday, July 10, Catholic Bishops in the three countries of Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa say, “As a Conference, we are happy that the Pope has recognized the gifts of Cardinal-elect Brislin and availed them for the larger Church by appointing him a Cardinal.”
“With the appointment of Archbishop Brislin, it is a joy for the Conference to assist the Holy Father through two Cardinals,” they further says, and add, “Although Cardinal Napier has reached the age of 80, which makes him unable to be part of the Cardinals that elect the new Pope, he remains active as the advisor of the Pope.”
On July 9, Pope Francis announced a new Consistory that he said would take place on September 30.
Speaking from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square after reciting the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father named 21 new Cardinals, including three from Africa, nine from Europe, three from Asia, five from Central and Latin America. Three of the newly named Cardinals are over the age of 80.
