Pope Francis has appointed three new cardinals from Africa, highlighting the importance of the continent in the Catholic Church. Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin of Juba in South Sudan, Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, former Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization and current Coadjutor Archbishop for Tanzania’s Tabora Archdiocese, and Archbishop Stephen Brislin from South Africa have been named as cardinals.
Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin expressed his gratitude for the appointment, stating that the happiness of the church is his happiness. Archbishop Stephen Brislin shared his surprise and confusion upon hearing the news, while Archbishop Protase Rugambwa’s response was not mentioned in the given information.
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba congratulated Archbishop Stephen Brislin on his appointment, emphasizing the well-deserved recognition. The announcement of the new cardinals comes as Pope Francis plans to hold a Consistory, a ceremony to install the new cardinals, at the Vatican on September 30. A total of 21 new cardinals will be created during the Consistory.
This appointment highlights the significance of the African continent in the Catholic Church and recognizes the contributions of these African bishops to the global Catholic community.
