Transcript for Pope Francis appoints 14 new cardinals

Another I wanna turn over to that major announcement coming from the Catholic Church that the Pope. Announcing the the promotion or the appointment of fourteen new cardinals this is major major news or checking the David Wright. David talk a little bit about who these men are that the Pope decided a to become cargo. I'm Maggie he's the term of art is he's creating these cards he elevated from the ranks of the bishops. Fourteen. New cardinals eleven of whom will be eligible to vote for the next Pope these men from come from. Twelve countries around the world. And it's not so much a reflection of an ideological make over of the church so much as it is. An expression of Polk France's vision of the Catholic Church is a worldwide institution with lots of different local concerns perhaps. The most significant the very first Natal he mentioned Rafael Seko he is the patriarch of the called the end church he's now the cardinal. Of Iraq and no where on earth have Christians come under more direct attack Catholics come under more direct attack. Than in Iraq in a bloody aftermath of the US invasion. David I'm curious you know the appointment of his cardinals as you mentioned is a huge deal for the Catholic Church but. Other people maybe don't understand what a cardinal even is or does or why it matters for the Catholic Church or why it matters for people that. Let aren't Catholic break it down for us why should. Should I really care about these fourteen guys. Well this. That are fair quest these are the princes of the church they run arch diocese worldwide in the world's largest. Denomination. Or perhaps more significantly. These are the folks the college of cardinals who also run the oldest. Election system. Continuously in operation. The conclave that will and that elect the next Pope and decide the direction of the church for future generations. Voting in the college of cardinals is restricted to cardinals who were under the age of he'd either 200 plus cardinals in all. 125. Of them are old enough to vote almost or a little bit more than half and half of those have been appointed or elevated created by Pope Francis so at this point. He's had a huge change the addition of fourteen. A new cardinals eleven of who can vote that's 10% of the college of cardinals moments that are voting for the next boat. That means that the next Pope will likely. Is more likely to share Pope Francis is convictions. Any idea David and Michael Francis to be doing this now why why this month why this year what's happening but he could see the clock ticked. And he is getting up there himself he's expressed himself. That he might decide to step down at some point precedent set by his immediate predecessor Pope Benedict. Or he also knows how has been as a source of concern as well. And so inevitably the day will come when he will no longer be the leader of the Catholic Church. Also significant in today's ceremony is the fact that a lot of people don't know they're actually three ranks of bishops their bishop deacons bishop priests. Circuit cardinal deacons cardinal priests and cardinals bishops. Why that's significant is that the cardinal bishops that the top ranks of the college of cardinals includes the dean of the college. That's the person who runs the conclave. The current dean of the college of cardinals is now ninety years old. And the new crop. That broke France's created today. Includes the likely successor. Two cardinals on I don't know. That is the current Vatican secretary of state. He will run the next elections. David. So much you really broken down for me I understand it now I appreciate it. We ducking and lots and lives.

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