THANKSGIVING MASS OF HIS EMINENCE AQUILINO CARDINAL BOCOS, CMF

THANKSGIVING MASS OF HIS EMINENCE AQUILINO CARDINAL BOCOS, CMF AT THE MINOR BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY IN ROME

Rome, Italy. On this day, June 30, at 10 am local time, at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Rome, His Eminence Aquilino Cardinal Bocos, CMF celebrated the Mass in honor of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary in thanksgiving for his election to the College of Cardinals. He was joined by his colleagues, Fernando Cardinal Sebastian, CMF, Carlos Cardinal Amigo; Bishops Luis Angel de las Herras, CMF, Placido Rodriguez, CMF and Bishop-elect, former Superior General, Fr. Josep Abella, CMF. Also present were Father General, Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF; Major Superior of the Delegation of Italy, Fr. Franco Incampo, CMF; Major Superior of St. Charles Lwanga, Fr. John Francis CMF; Major Superior of Santiago Province, Fr. Pedro Belderrain, CMF, and our brothers from the different communities in Rome and those who are from the Province of Santiago. The Claretian Family in Rome and some religious Congregations, friends of Cardinal Bocos, also attended the joyful celebration.

We should remember that Pope Francis had earlier in May elevated this our former Superior General, Msgr. Aquilino Bocos Merino, CMF, Titular Archbishop of Urusi, to Cardinal Deacon of Santa Lucia del Gonfalone. Together with him are the other Cardinals created today by the Supreme Pontiff who received their individual biretta, ecclesiastical episcopal ring, and their respective office.

During that celebration, Pope Francis invited them to eliminate vain and self-centred discussion in the Church, in order to further the interests of the Father. They have to follow Jesus for it is he who gave us this principle to eliminate vain and self-centred discussions from the community of disciples in order to bring out the best in their hearts. They are to refocus their hearts and have a converted heart because conversion allows the Church to seek the Father’s interest rather than personal. And lastly, he remind them that Jesus is in the lead and they have to render their service to Christ in God’s faithful people.

Some Claretian Bishops and members of the Congregation also attended the consistory to witness and join our brother Aquilino in this particular moment of his life and in this particular time in the history of our Congregation.

It was thus, during the Consistory at the St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis formally publishes the decree of elevation to Cardinal of those whom he has announced on May 20. They are the following:

Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon {Babilonia} (Chaldean), Iraq; Age: 69.9
Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Age: 74.1
Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of Roma {Rome}, Italy; Age: 64.4
Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Substitute (Sostituto) of the Secretariat of State; Age: 70.0
Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of the Office of Papal Charities; Age: 54.5
Joseph Coutts, Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan; Age: 72.9
António Augusto dos Santos Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Fátima, Portugal; Age: 71.1
Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, S.J., Archbishop of Huancayo, Peru; Age: 74.3
Désiré Tsarahazana, Archbishop of Toamasina, Madagascar; Age: 64.0
Giuseppe Petrocchi, Archbishop of L’Aquila, Italy; Age: 69.8
Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, Archbishop of Osaka, Japan; Age: 69.3
Sergio Obeso Rivera, Archbishop Emeritus of Jalapa (Xalapa), Veracruz, México; Age: 86.6
Toribio Ticona Porco, Prelate Emeritus of Corocoro, Bolivia; Age: 81.1
Aquilino Bocos Merino, C.M.F., Superior General Emeritus of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Age: 80.1

Among the three created non-voting Cardinals is our very own former General Superior, now Archbishop of Urusi, a civitas and ancient episcopal see of the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis in present-day Tunisia.

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