Society
Of The Divine Word

On December 7, Pope Francis created 21 New Cardinals during a consistory held at 4 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica. Among the newly created Cardinals are two members of the Society of the Divine Word: Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, Japan, and Archbishop Ladislav Nemet of Belgrade, Serbia. Notably, the first SVD cardinal was Thomas Tien, Archbishop of Beijing, who served from 1946 to 1967. It has been 57 years since the Society of the Divine Word last had cardinals within its ranks.

Members of the General Council and of the Collegio Verbo Divino in Rome, led by Vice General Xavier Thirukudumbam, attended the consistory to accompany and support the two new cardinals.

During the consistory, the New Cardinals were assigned titular deaconries in Rome, symbolizing their connection to the Diocese of Rome, of which the Pope is both bishop and primate. This tradition underscores the historical bond between the cardinals and the city of Rome. Cardinal Kikuchi was given the titular of San Giovanni Leonardi, while Cardinal Nemet received the titular of Santa Maria Stella Maris.

With the creation of the 21 new Cardinals, the College of Cardinals is now composed of 253 Cardinals, of whom 140 are electors and 113 are non-electors.

GMD