The region of the world encompassing all of those small island nations across the southern Pacific Ocean, along with Papua-New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand, it covers a massive area, yet brings only 4 cardinals to the Conclave. However, with only four, we can get a snapshot of each. The elder clergyman among the quartet is a native Kiwi, Cardinal John Drew is Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington, New Zealand. Much of his active ministry was spent in working with the formation of other priests and in education roles. Now 76, Pope Francis I elevated him to the Cardinal ranks in 2015.
Two of the Cardinals are in their 60's. Cardinal Soane Patiti Paini Mafi is the first Cardinal ever for the island nations of Tonga. Also appointed Cardinal in 2015, at the time he was the youngest Cardinal in the ranks. Besides Tonga, he also served for a time on Fiji. Cardinal John Ribat of Papua New Guinea also spent a little time in Suva, Fiji. Ribat's entree to the priesthood was through Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and he studied in the Philippines before returning to Port Moresby permanently.
The final member of Cardinals from this region is Mykola Bychok who is a member of the Ukranian Greek Catholic Church as well as received by the Roman Catholic Church--he gets to wear a slightly different costume, too. Bychok's move from Urkaine to Australia was orchestrated from start to finish by Pope Francis I. And at 45, he is the youngest member of the conclave.
No comments:
Post a Comment