Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including archbishop of Toronto
CTV
The Archbishop of Toronto is among 21 new cardinals Pope Francis named Sunday and the lone new cardinal from North America.
The Archbishop of Toronto is among 21 new cardinals Pope Francis named Sunday and the lone new cardinal from North America.
Archbishop Francis Leo, 53, was born in Montreal and previously served as vicar general and moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Montreal and auxiliary bishop of Montreal. He has served as archbishop of Toronto since March 2023.
Leo was not available for interviews Sunday as the archdiocese said the news was quite sudden, but he issued a statement saying he is humbled and honoured to receive the appointment.
"I pray and rely on the prayers of the faithful in Toronto that I will be a worthy servant of the Lord Jesus in fulfilling my responsibilities as a member of the College of Cardinals and to continue in my primary role as shepherd of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto," he wrote.
The Pope significantly increased the size of the College of Cardinals with Sunday's appointments, further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor.
The new cardinals will get their red hats at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on Dec. 8.
One of the other people named Sunday as a cardinal is Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, a retired Vatican diplomat once held hostage for six weeks in Colombia by leftist guerrillas, who at age 99 is the only new intake over 80 and hence too old to vote for a new pope.
