Chilean cardinal turns 80, number of papal electors falls to 111

September 05, 2013

Cardinal Franciso Javier Errazuriz Ossa, the retired Archbishop of Santiago, Chile, celebrated his 80th birthday on September 5 and thus became ineligible to vote in a papal conclave.

There are now 111 cardinal-electors. If Pope Francis chooses to confer red hats on some prelates—such as the incoming Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin—there is room available in the College of Cardinals. The current rule sets the maximum number of cardinal-electors at 120.

Two more cardinals—Raffael Farina, the former Vatican archivist; and Geraldo Majella Angelo, the retired Archbishop of San Salvador de Bahia, Brazil—will turn 80 before the end of October. And 5 more cardinals will pass their 80th birthdays by March of next year, providing ample space for new appointments when Pope Francis calls his first consistory.

 

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Further information:

• Chilean Cardinal Errázuriz turns 80, number of papal electors down to 111 (Rome Reports)