Pope Francis and those rumors about a new Consistory

Why would Pope Francis call a new consistory? It is a legitimate question that does not arise out of nowhere. Rumors about a possible creation of new cardinals have been swirling again, especially since a few hints were dropped in May.

The traditionalist site Messa in Latino relaunched the news of a possible new Consistory of Pope Francis, together with the rumor—also circulating for several months—that Pope Francis will appoint Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime SDB, outgoing Rector Major of the Salesians, as prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life.

The appointment of Artime has been in the air since Pope Francis created him as a cardinal, which was unusual because he was still Rector Major of the Salesians. He was granted dispensation from ordination as archbishop, which is generally given only to cardinals over eighty, to continue to lead his religious congregation, at least for the time that the Pope had asked of him. Artime remained until the Pope asked him to, then he left and is now waiting for an assignment.

Artime’s situation is a situation in keeping with Pope Francis’ modus operandi. The Pope has no qualms about intervening in the life of a religious congregation, calling to himself those he considers his men, or in any case, men who are faithful to him, to strengthen his government somehow.

The Pope could call a new consistory, even though the numbers for the next conclave are still correct: at the end of 2024, there will be 120 cardinal electors. Pope Francis had already exceeded—by 18—the limit of 120 cardinal electors set by Paul VI and never repealed. Still, the idea was that the Pope had called the last consistory to cover two years of the College of Cardinals, and not just one, and therefore to guarantee his succession.

The Pope seems to have returned to health and a long trip to Asia awaits him.

The focus is no longer only on 2024 but also on 2025, at the end of which there will be 107 cardinal electors, unless the Pope makes more, because 13 cardinals will be over 80.

Why might Pope Francis start at the end of next year?

The question is crucial, and the answers could be different. The most logical explanation is the simplest one. Pope Francis does not simply want to govern today; he still wants to ensure the transition. This has been his modus operandi from the beginning. The Pope has sometimes proceeded with moderate spoils systems and more brutal use of spoils on other occasions, but he has always used appointments carefully to give indications.

Consistories have been part of the Pope’s government, so much so that he has called nine in 11 years of pontificate. John Paul II was also called nine but spread out over 27 years of the pontificate. Practically every year since he became Pope, Francis changes the face of the College of Cardinals, filling the empty slots with new cardinal electors and inserting additional cardinal electors who are already destined to change the face of the College of Cardinals.

Pope Francis has accustomed us, with the consistories, to a surprise effect.

He has abandoned the logic of dioceses and cardinal positions and instead opted for ad personam picks. However, he still needs to move the new cardinals of dioceses and has yet to give them a new assignment in case this assignment was not already cardinal.

Thus, Pope Francis’s appointments of cardinals have had a threefold purpose: to reward faithful collaborators, to show attention to specific situations by broadening the so-called “electoral base,” and to take a position on certain past situations. For example, cardinals over eighty who had been set aside in the past have been created—the so-called “remediation cardinals.”

At this moment of the pontificate, a fourth dimension could be added to these three.

At a time when the Francis pontificate seems to have lost the “grip” on the media world it had in the past. At the same time, the positions of Pope Francis do not fail to generate controversy but have little impact on world affairs.

Considering that even the propulsive push for para-doctrinal reforms has not been well received even by friendly bishops, Pope Francis needs to send a signal to the Church.

The Pope needs to demonstrate unity, and to do that, he needs to come up with something everyone can get behind. That—whatever it is—will allow him to regain control.

In theory, maybe.

The McCarrick and Rupnik cases, the fight against traditionalism, the “non-liturgical” issue of blessings for irregular couples, the trial in the Vatican that also involved a cardinal, and even the situation that arose with Benedict XVI’s funeral have not contributed to strengthening the pontificate.

Pope Francis is, at this moment, at the end of the generational transition.

He brought a faithful friend, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, to Rome as his first collaborator. He has opened a synodal process governed by how he sees fit and controls at the highest level, taking an interest in everything. He has started a process of reforms that are de-institutionalizing the Vatican.

In those senses, everything is playing in his favor.

In reality, Pope Francis is almost incredibly isolated. Some of his choices now appear in all their drama for future developments.

For example, could the trial in the Vatican, and how the Pope acted on the prosecution, damage the Holy See in international forums when we talk about a fair trial?

Will the work on financial reform, which has led to obstinate outsourcing that could even see the sale of the Vatican supermarket to an Italian chain, serve to make the Holy See safe? Or, will it be more vulnerable in more and different ways, when Francis is done?

Will Francis’s doctrinal pragmatism give a center to the Church, or will it create more significant division?

These are all questions that are circulating today. Positive ones are also circulating; everyone does not look down upon the Pope’s reform. But – and this is the point – it is no longer generally seen with an anticipation of sympathy.

Thus, a consistory would have the power to give an effect of compactness.

On the other hand, it is not a given that from “Bergoglian” cardinals, a “Bergoglian” Pope will emerge one day. At the time of the Conclave, Francis will be dead, and the cardinals will decide independently.

Indeed, a paradoxical situation will be created: if the new Pope is in line with Pope Francis, he will follow his example, work alone, and put aside the old collaborators of the past; if he is not in line, he will put everyone aside anyway because he will need new generals for a new season. In both cases, we are facing the end of the world.

A consistory could give the illusion that this world is not ending. But it will only be an illusion.