In my Morning Briefing this morning, I pointed to a story, Archbishop Quevedo arrives in Vatican, to be installed cardinal on Saturday, labeling it “cardinals to watch.”
You can read more about Quevedo here: Philippine cardinal architect of Asian pastoral churches. Our correspondent now in Rome Josh McElwee, interviewed Quevedo as part of his story earlier today (See Cardinals appeal for dialogue, call synod on family considerations 'misunderstood'.) This just scratches the surface of the interview. Check back with NCR later for more from the soon-to-be new cardinal from the Philippines.
Another cardinal to keep an eye on is Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, England.
Catherine Pepinster, editor of London’s The Tablet, interview the cardinal-elect before he left for Rome. The full article is here: Cardinal with a cause. Here’s a couple snippets.
While [the role of the cardinals], Nichols says, is mostly about giving the Pope support and advice — and, of course, voting for his successor in the next conclave — he also seems ready to relish what else it will involve. One can sense that he is raring to go as a champion of people who have few others to speak up for them. “Pope Francis has chosen as new cardinals people whose lived experience is poverty and are from the biggest cities around the world – Rio, Santiago, London. This explains his priorities and his intentions.” …
After consistently supporting Caritas, the social action arm of the Church, Nichols has, step by step, been speaking about poverty and the need for Catholics to express their solidarity with the poor – through organisations providing breakfast for schoolchildren and organising tea parties for lonely older people.
Now he’s gone much further and has been speaking out, firstly about restrictions on bringing in foreign spouses of British citizens, and criticising the impact of welfare reform. It brought a direct response from the Prime Minister himself.
Perhaps after five years or so of being the quiet, polite archbishop, something of the Liverpool bruiser is emerging, the man from the Anfield terraces who is shouting for his team – the people who are suffering.
A third, intriguing cardinal is Haiti’s Bishop Chibly Langlois. If you missed the National Public Radio profile of Langlois, take a listen now: Haiti's First Cardinal Remains A Priest Of The People.
