The majority of the designated cardinals will participate in the consistory

Despite the rapid shift in travel restrictions in place during the global pandemic, most of the designated cardinals intended to attend the Vatican ceremony to receive the red hats and cardinal's rings.

Many had to plan ahead to prepare for the big day; for example, Cardinal Designate Wilton D. Gregory of Washington arrived in Rome early so that he could quarantine 10 days before the November 28 ceremony.

Cardinal designate Celestino Aos Braco, 75-year-old archbishop of Santiago de Chile, was also in quarantine as a precaution, staying at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the residence where Pope Francis lives.

Others have had to plan other ceremonies as well, planning to be ordained bishop - normally a prerequisite for priests before being elevated to the rank of cardinal.

For example, the 56-year-old cardinal designate Enrico Feroci, who spent 15 years as a priest in Rome, received his episcopal ordination on November XNUMX - World Day of the Poor, a date he found significant for his many years of service. the poor through his parishes and as former director of Caritas in Rome.

Cardinal designate Mauro Gambetti, a 55-year-old conventual Franciscan and former custodian of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, would have had his episcopal ordination on November 22 in the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi.

The only priest who asked for and received from the pope the dispensation for not being ordained a bishop was the cardinal designate Raniero Cantalamessa, the 86-year-old preacher of the papal household.

The Capuchin priest said he wanted to avoid any sign of a superior office, preferring to be buried at his death in the guise of a Franciscan, he told the website of the diocese of Rieti, ChiesaDiRieti.it.

The office of a bishop, he said, “is to be a shepherd and a fisherman. At my age, there is little I can do as a “shepherd”, but, on the other hand, what I can do as a fisherman is to continue proclaiming the word of God ”.

He said the Pope asked him once again to hold this year's Advent meditations, which would be held in the Paul VI hall of the Vatican, so that the participants - Pope Francis and senior Vatican officials - could keep the required distances.

Seven of the 13 newly appointed cardinals live in Italy or work in the Roman Curia, so getting to Rome is less complicated, despite the advanced age of some, such as the XNUMX-year-old cardinal designate Silvano M. Tomasi, former nuncio Pope Francis recently appointed his special delegate to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Other Italians are the designated cardinals Marcello Semeraro, 72, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and Paolo Lojudice, 56, archbishop of Siena.

Cardinal designate Mario Grech, a Maltese, is secretary general of the Synod of Bishops.

The 63-year-old former bishop of Gozo leads the list of new cardinals and told Gozo News he would deliver a speech on behalf of all new cardinals at the ceremony.

He said they could visit retired Pope Benedict XVI at his residence in the Vatican gardens, and Pope Francis will celebrate mass with the new cardinals the day after the consistory for the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, in St. Peter's Basilica.

As of November 19, the Vatican had not released detailed information on the weekend's events, but some designated cardinals confirmed they were authorized to invite up to 10 people to the November 28 event. It was expected that the traditional meeting meetings for new cardinals and supporters would not be held in the Paul VI hall or in the Apostolic Palace.

Under canon law, cardinals are created by the pope's decree, and ecclesiastical law does not insist that the new cardinal be present, although traditionally the consistory includes a public profession of faith by the new cardinals.

Of the 13 new cardinals, only two told news in advance that they would not come. The designated cardinals were given the option not to make the trip and instead receive their insignia in their country of origin.

Although they wanted to attend the ceremony, Cardinals-designate Jose F. Advincula of Capiz, Philippines, 68, and Cornelius Sim, Apostolic Vicar of Brunei, 69, both canceled their trips to Rome due to the pandemic.

As of November 19, travel plans were unclear for 62-year-old Archbishop Antoine Kambanda of Kigali, Rwanda, and retired Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, 80, of San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico.

Once the consistory is held in late November, there will be 128 cardinals under 80 and eligible to vote in the conclave. Pope Francis will have created just over 57 percent. Sixteen of the cardinals created by St. John Paul II will still be less than 80 years old as well as 39 of the cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI; Pope Francis will have created 73 electors