This consistory, the eighth of Francis’ pontificate since his election in 2013, comes amid speculation about a possible renunciation by the 85-year-old pope, who has been forced for several months to move around in a wheelchair due to knee pain and who left “open” the possibility of withdrawing one day.

At 4:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. GMT) on Saturday, under the gilding of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Pope will create 20 new cardinals, among whom 16 “electors” – those under the age of 80 – will be able to participate in the future conclave.

The appointment of these high prelates responsible for assisting the pope is scrutinized by observers who see it as an indication of the possible line of the future spiritual leader of the 1.3 billion Catholics.

Sensitive to minority communities, social fiber and evangelization, the Argentinian Jesuit has freed himself from the traditional choice of archbishops of large cities, preferring less expected profiles.

With five Asians including two Indians, this consistory confirms the rise of this continent. It is also “representative of the Church today, with a large place in the southern hemisphere”, where 80% of Catholics live, underlines the Vaticanist Bernard Lecomte.

– “Great honor” –

At the end of this consistory, the first since November 2020, Pope Francis will have chosen 83 cardinals out of the current total of 132 voters, i.e. almost two thirds, the proportion necessary to elect a new pope, even if this choice is always unpredictable.

With 40% of voters, Europe thus remains the most represented continent, ahead of South America and Asia (16% each), Africa (13%) and North America (12%) .

Among the notable personalities is the American Robert McElroy, bishop of San Diego in California considered progressive for his positions on homosexual Catholics in particular.

Also note the unexpected choice of the Italian missionary Giorgio Marengo, working in Mongolia, who will become at 48 the youngest cardinal in the world.

Alongside them are Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, who becomes the sixth Frenchman in the college of cardinals. “This trust that the pope grants me is a great honor, which commits me and obliges me even more in my mission in the service of Christ”, declared Mgr Aveline, 63, particularly committed to interreligious dialogue.

– Barrette and ring –

Other men in the field to put on the purple robe, the Nigerian Peter Okpaleke, the Brazilian Leonardo Ulrich Steiner or even Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, Archbishop of Dili (East Timor).

Three future cardinals already occupy positions of responsibility in the Curia, the “government” of the Vatican: the Briton Arthur Roche, the South Korean Lazzaro You Heung-sik and the Spaniard Fernando Vérgez Alzaga.

As usual, all will kneel before the pope to receive their red barrette and their cardinal’s ring. The ceremony, where France will be represented by its Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, will be followed by the traditional “courtesy visit” to the Vatican, which allows the public to greet the new cardinals.

In the process, on Monday and Tuesday, a meeting will be held with cardinals from around the world, whom the Argentine pontiff wanted to bring together to discuss the new “Constitution” of the Vatican, which came into force in June, and the future of the Church.

Jorge Bergoglio recently accelerated his reforms of the Curia and its finances to introduce more transparency.