Pope Francis’ 8th Consistory of New Cardinals Expected in 2022

The National Catholic Register ^ | 12/31/21 | Ed Pentin

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The Pope is expected to call his 8th consistory in 2022, adding to the 70 cardinals he has already chosen.

VATICAN CITY — Predicting the coming year at the Vatican is always tricky, and that’s especially so in light of our current papacy of surprises and COVID-19.

But one event that can safely be foreseen is a consistory of new cardinals.

Currently the College of Cardinals has 120 cardinals under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave. An advisory limit of 120 set by Pope St. Paul VI has often been exceeded, including by Pope Francis.

But the fact that the number is already 120 at the beginning of 2022 means that throughout the course of the coming year the number will fall and Francis will undoubtedly wish to call a new consistory to make up the numbers.

This is significant, as the more cardinal electors Pope Francis can appoint, the more likely he will be able to guide the next conclave into electing his preferred successor, although this is not a failsafe plan. Pius XII’s choices, for example, did not prevent Angelo Roncalli, who differed from Pius in many ways and whom Pius elevated to the College of Cardinals in 1953, from being elected John XXIII in 1958.