RMG – Salesian Cardinals in history

12 September 2023

(ANS - Rome) - To the surprise of many - first and foremost, the person concerned - on 9 July Pope Francis appointed Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Don Bosco's 10th successor, a cardinal. The surprise concerned a purple assigned to a current Major Superior, and also the relatively young age of the chosen one (63). But it is not at all surprising that a Son of Don Bosco should be called to serve the Church in such a capacity. So far the various Pontiffs have already created 19 of them - not counting the Rector Major, who will become a Cardinal on coming 30 September. Precisely in view of that event, starting from today and over the next few days, we will try to briefly rediscover their figures and missions.

Before doing so, however, a note on who the cardinals are and what they do seems necessary.

According to Canon Law, Can. 349, "The cardinals of the Holy Roman Church constitute a special college which provides for the election of the Roman Pontiff according to the norm of special law. The cardinals assist the Roman Pontiff either collegially when they are convoked to deal with questions of major importance, or individually when they help the Roman Pontiff through the various offices they perform, especially in the daily care of the universal Church".

Again Can. 351 §1 states, "The Roman Pontiff freely selects men to be promoted as cardinals, who have been ordained at least into the order of the presbyterate and are especially outstanding in doctrine, morals, piety, and prudence in action; those who are not yet bishops must receive episcopal consecration".

And here follows the list of Salesians created cardinals, in chronological order, and with the date of appointment.