By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-05 22:06:55 | Updated at 2024-11-06 01:30:35
3 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Pope Francis has officially included Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples in the list of 21 new cardinals who will be appointed during a consistory on December 7, according to a November 4 report from Vatican News.
The appointment of Archbishop Battaglia brings the total number of new cardinals back to 21, following an Indonesian bishop’s decision to decline his appointment. Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur turned down the position to “grow further in priestly life, in the service of the Church and the people of God,” CatholicVote reported.
The announcement, made by Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, highlighted Archbishop Battaglia’s commitment to service and his prominent role in the Naples Archdiocese since he took over in December 2020, according to Vatican News.
Commonly referred to as “Don Mimmo,” Archbishop Battaglia, 61, is known for his compassionate outreach to marginalized individuals and communities in southern Italy, Vatican News reported.
With a background of being a “street priest,” the Archbishop has particularly focused on aiding young people and those affected by addiction.
The Archbishop’s history of working with those on the fringes of society includes significant involvement with the Centro Calabrese di Solidarietà, a therapeutic center for addiction recovery, where he served as national president from 2006 to 2015. He also played a role in the Betania Foundation, which focuses on charitable initiatives in Catanzaro, according to Vatican News.
Vatican News reported that as Archbishop Battaglia looks forward to his new responsibilities as a cardinal, he highlights his role as a supportive shepherd. In his inaugural message to the people of Naples as their archbishop, he described himself as “a brother who goes among brothers and sisters,” affirming a commitment to the community that he intends to uphold as cardinal.
According to the report, the Pope also called Archbishop Battaglia to join the members of the two sessions of the Synod on Synodality, held in October of 2023 and 2024.
