the goan I network
PANAJI
Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, a new cardinal of Goan origin who is under 80, will be eligible to participate in an eventual conclave to choose Pope Francis’ successor.
In a message, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas said, “eleven of the new cardinals are under 80, making them eligible to participate in an eventual conclave to choose Francis’ successor.”
“The 11 new cardinals under the age of 80 -- which includes Archbishop Coutts (72) -- will be active participants in a future conclave.”
“As of June 29, when the new cardinals are inducted, the total number of cardinals will be 227, of whom 126 will be under 80 years and able to vote for a new pope. That’s well above the traditional ceiling of 120 electors established under Blessed Pope Paul VI.”
“This will be Francis’ fifth consistory after previous events in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Let us pray for the newly elected Cardinals,” said Bishop Mascarenhas.
Incidentally, Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, will be the second Goan cardinal after Cardinal Oswald Gracias, to be eligible to participate in an eventual conclave to choose the pope’s successor.
