With new cardinals, Pope speaks about the Church and himself

• Inés San Martín
• crux now

With new cardinals, Pope speaks about the Church and himself

ROME - Popes speak in a lot of different ways, relatively few of which actually involve the use of words. When a pope makes a personnel move, for instance, it always says a great deal about where he wants the Church to go and the kind of person he believes can get it there.
On Sunday, therefore, Pope Francis said a great deal by announcing 14 new cardinals, including 11 under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to elect his successor. Some of what the pope said through those selections is about the state of the Church, and some appeared to be at least as much about the pope himself.