Franc Rode Becomes first Cardinal from Slovenia
Pope Benedict XVI announced during a general audience that Slovenian Archbishop Franc Rode will be one of the 15 dignitaries to be made cardinal at a consistory on 24 March. Rode headed the Slovenian Roman Catholic Church for seven years as archbishop of Ljubljana and Slovenian metropolitan before he was summoned to the Vatican in the spring of 2004 to become prefect of the congregation for religious orders.
His naming as cardinal was hailed by the Slovenian Bishops' Conference as a sign of the pope's trust in the Slovenian church and the nation. Congratulations were sent to Rode, the highest-ranking Slovenian in the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, by all Slovenian top officials as well as by the Muslim community in Slovenia.
Rode will actually be the first Slovenian cardinal, but the third of Slovenian descent in the history of Slovenian Roman Catholic Church. The first Slovenian to become cardinal was Gorica Archbishop Jakob Missia in 1899, followed by Canada's Toronto Archbishop Alojzij Ambrozic 99 years later.
Rode expressed happiness about the naming, saying: "I am happy for the Ljubljana archdiocese...for the Slovenian Church and for all Slovenians across the world." Although there are certain new duties pegged to the title of cardinal, Rode said he did not expect any major changes in his work or life.
All 15 new cardinals will be officially confirmed at the upcoming consistory in what will be Benedict XVI's first appointment of cardinals since he took office after the death of his predecessor John Paul II last year.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|