Pope may name RP bishop as Cardinal Vidal’s replacement

Pope Benedict XVI may name a Philippine bishop to succeed a Philippine cardinal who will turn 80 in February 2011. The Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA) cited sources in the Vatican who said the Pope’s appointment may replace Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. “He might also assign a red hat to the Philippines, as one of its two cardinals – Cardinal Ricardo Vidal – will turn 80 in February 2011," the UCA said in an article on its Website. UCA added that Benedict XVI was also tipped to make as many as four other Asian cardinals at the next assembly of cardinals with the pope in October. [See: Pope tipped to make 4 new Asian caridnals] It said the Pope might also decide to appoint a cardinal from Pakistan to give encouragement to the Christian community there. Among the most likely to be given red hats are Japan’s Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada, Sri Lanka’s Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, India’s Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, and Myanmar’s Archbishop Charles Maung Bo. But UCA said the Pope has a major problem as there are far more candidates than available positions. “If he abides by Pope Paul VI’s rule that the number of cardinal electors should not exceed 120, then he will have at most 20 positions to assign," the UCA said. Asia currently has a total of 18 cardinals but only 10 of them are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect the next Pope. - LBG, GMANews.TV