College of Cardinals

Pope Francis has extended the terms of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri as subdean, the Vatican press office announced.

Standing in communion alongside brother bishops from Argentina, Ecuador, Iran, Serbia and a rich assemblage of other nations, Toronto's Archbishop Francis Leo was elevated to the College of Cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica today.

In the presence of cardinals, bishops, priests, laity, colleagues, friends and family, Cardinal-elect Leo pledged a Dec. 6 welcome reception and dinner for the Canadian delegation to live up to the vows he will take at the Papal Consistory on Dec. 7.

Discounting the brief wave and greeting I directed to Toronto Archbishop Francis Leo when I viewed him touring The Catholic Register’s office on Yonge Street from the comfort of my remote workspace in Calgary, I first enjoyed a full-on interaction with the now Cardinal this past January.

Ontario’s Catholic bishops await learning which dicastery assignments Pope Francis will confer to new Cardinal Toronto Francis Leo with great anticipation.

In October, when he was invited to join the College of Cardinals, Cardinal-elect Francis Leo said he would discern how this elevation could help him become an even better servant for the Archdiocese of Toronto and beyond.

For the most part, we can say the Catholic Church has done its share to make this a better world, and done this very well despite a few hiccups here and there.

Anyone interested in Catholic Church can now see a detailed, interactive breakdown of the body that will elect the next pope.

Remembering the cardinals and bishops who died in the past year, Pope Francis prayed that after their loving service to the Catholic Church "they may exult in eternal communion with the saints."

Archbishop of Toronto Francis Leo woke up at 6:20 a.m. on Oct.6 to a text-tone chorus.