The Holy See has made public the names of the 9 cardinals who will form the Council of Cardinals of Pope Francis. The first meeting of this renewed council will be held on April 24 at the house of Santa Marta.
Pope Francis created the Council of Cardinals shortly after his arrival at the See of Peter, in 2013, to advise him in the government of the Church. Initially there were 9 cardinals, later there were 8 and, at present, 6 cardinals were part of this council and, with the renewal of members and the entry of new cardinals, there are again 9 members of this Council.
The main objective of the group is to advise the Pope in the government, both jointly, as a council and in a personal way, being able to make their own suggestions, although the final decision rests with the pontiff.
The following Spanish cardinals have joined this working group Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, L.C., President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State; and Juan José Omella OmellaArchbishop of Barcelona (Spain) and President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference. In addition, Cardinal Gérald C. Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec (Canada); Cardinal Archbishop of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.I.; and the Metropolitan Archbishop of San Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M.Cap., Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap. Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap., Metropolitan Archbishop of Boston, and Oswald Gracias, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bombay.
Alongside them, of course, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, who joined the Council of Cardinals in 2014 and the secretary, Msgr. Marco Mellino, Titular Bishop of Cresima (Italy).
