POPE PIUS INCREASES NUMBER OF CARDINALS

Grey River Argus, 16 November 1948, Page 8

POPE PIUS INCREASES NUMBER OF CARDINALS

[From John Talbot, Reuters Correspondent] VATICAN CITY. (By Airmail. The Curia Romana, Great Central Governing Body of the Catholic Church, as facing a manpower crisis which only the creation of a number of new Cardinals can solve. It has today only 15 Cardinals who, as heads of the 11 sacred congregations (or Ministries) three Ecclesiastical Tribunals, four offices, and the Vatican territory itself, have to carry on the work of Government of the Church. Of the Cardinals in the Curia Romana the youngest is 64 years old, and the oldest is 83. Owing to ill health and the advanced age of many of them, only some four or five are able to attend with any regularity the periodical meetings held to deal with the most important questions of their various departments. The re; cent death of Cardinal Raffaele Rossi who, under the general direction of the Pope as Prefect, was head of one of the most important of the Ministries, the Consistorial Congregation, has left vacant not only that post, but also that of Director of the Administration of the goods of the Holy See. In well-informed Vatican circles it is felt that the burden of work now falling upon these 15 men, nine of whom are over 70 years of age and another three over 80 is greater than they can deal with properly. Doubled Strength Pope Pius is believed to be in favour of increasing the maximum membership of the Sacred College of Cardinals which now stands at 70, although in point of fact there are today only 57 living members. The total of 70 was laid down by Pope Sixtus V in 1586, but at that time Christianity did not extend much beyond the boundaries of Europe and Catholics numbered not more than 100,000,000. To-day there are at least 400.000,000 Catholics spread over every country of the world. Many predominantly Catholic countries, including Czechoslovakia. Ireland, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela and Lithuania, to-day have no representative in the Sacred College of Cardinals. It is felt here that in view of the increased membership of the Church, some at least of these countries should be represented by a Cardinal. At the same time, it is considered essential to increase the number of Cardinals in the Curia Romana who, of course, must be resident in Rome. , The 57 Cardinals are at present distributed as follows: —Curia Romana, 15 (including one frenchman); abroad, 42 divided thus: ftab'7: Germany, 3; United States, 4; Belgium, 1; Poland. 2; Spain, 2; gal, 2; France, 5; Austria, 1; Giientals. 2; Argentina, 2; Canada, 1, Holland, 1; Brazil, 2; Australia, 1: Gnue, 1; Cuba, 1; Peru, 1;. England, 1, Hungary, 1; and China 1. . .. The need for an increase ini tn _. membership of the Sacred College, t. is believed in well-informed circles here, is acutely felt no L on U_2]®Lp r v'' the centre, but also at the Penphey. It is expected that the future wfl see not merely the c ll eatioa of bl 2. ard ' inals for the Curia R° maaa b a ,t bin overall increase in the of this body to perhaps almost twice the present total. Recent Popes, including present one, have by wise Government raised the Catholic Church to a. position of great prestige m the world, at the same time so extending its work in all fields of human activity that its Central Government—the Curia Romana —is now unable adequately to cope with the great demands being made upon it. Pope Piuit is believed here, will in the not too distant future take steps to solve the difficulties which have arisen in face of modei’n conditions and expansions. The Holy Father himself said, it is recalled 'here: “In the measure with which the people and their leaders are inspired with Catholicism will the world again find peace and prosperity.” _________