With today's ordination of Bishop Maksimus Regus as Bishop of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia we have had 209 total.
The previous record was 208 ordinations in a year in 2006.
More ordinations are scheduled for later this year, bringing the expected total to at least 233.
01 November 2024
22 August 2024
Predicting the Next Consistory to Create Cardinals (updated Oct 2024)
Pope Francis has held a consistory to create new cardinals every year of his papacy with the exceptions of his first and 2021.
This year is already half over and there are a number of large events already scheduled. Notably a papal trip to Asia and Oceania (2 to 13 Sep), papal trip to Luxembourg and Belgium (26 to 29 Sep), the Synod (2 to 27 Oct), and the start of the Holy Year on 24 Dec.
So that leaves November and most of December available.
All that follows is pure speculation :-)
I think the most likely date is Sat 7 Dec (just before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception).
The announcement of the consistory has generally been 1 to 2 months in advance. Since I suspect that some of those attending the Synod might be on the list, I don't expect it before that concludes on Sun 27 Oct.
The following week there are several opportunities. The Angelus on Sun 27 Oct, General Audience Wed 30 Oct, and the events around All Saints and All Souls.
Note that on 7 Dec there will be 121 Cardinal-electors (out of 236 total), assuming no deaths. While that is above already the limit of 120, that limit has been widely disregarded in the past. See Cardinal Electors and Modern Limits for more details.
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So, on 7 Oct 2024 Pope Francis announced his intention to create 21 new Cardinals on 8 Dec 2024! I was close!
On 12 Oct 2024, it was announced that the date was changed to my original prediction - 7 Dec 2024!
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Here are some other posts and links that might be useful.
- Cardinal Stats and Charts
- Cardinal Electors and Modern Limits
- When does a Cardinal become ineligible to Vote in a Conclave?
- When does a Cardinal become a Cardinal?
Some Cardinal links to the main site that might be useful:
10 July 2024
Second Vatican Council - Living Council Fathers (2024 update)
Today, one of the last Council Fathers from Vatican II passed away (Alphonsus Mathias) - leaving only 4 still living.
Still Living: (by age)
Full list of Council Fathers
Still Living: (by age)
- Bishop José de Jesús Sahagún de la Parra, Bishop Emeritus of Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, México, born 1 Jan 1922 (sessions 1, 2, and 4)
- Bishop Daniel Alphonse Omer Verstraete, O.M.I., Bishop Emeritus of Klerksdorp, South Africa, born 31 Jul 1924 (session 4)
- Archbishop Victorinus Youn Kong-hi, Archbishop Emeritus of Gwangju, Korea (South), born 8 Nov 1924 (sessions 2, 3, and 4)
- Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, born 1 Nov 1932 (session 4)
- Bishop Luigi Bettazzi, Bishop Emeritus of Ivrea, Italy, died on 16 Jul 1923 (sessions 2, 3, and 4)
- Archbishop Alphonsus Mathias, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore, India, died on 10 Jul 2024 (sessions 3 and 4)
Full list of Council Fathers
Updated: 10 Jul 2024
28 May 2024
Bishops Navagh and Smith of Ogdensburg
Both of these bishops were born in the early 20th century in the Diocese of Buffalo.
Bishop James Johnston Navagh was born in 1901 in Buffalo. Bishop Leo Richard Smith was born in 1905 in Attica.
They were both ordained priests for the Buffalo Diocese on Saturday 21 Dec 1929. But they occurred more than 4,000 miles (7,000 km) apart. Smith was ordained first, in San Giovanni in Laterano Cathedral Basilica in Rome, Italy by Basilio Cardinal Pompilj (Archpriest of that Basilica and Vicar General of Rome). Navagh was ordained in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo by Bishop William Turner.
Fate would bring them together again in the summer of 1952. On 29 Jul 1952, Navagh was named Auxiliary Bishop of Raleigh, NC. A day later, Smith was named Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo.
Since they were both priests serving in the Buffalo diocese at the time, they were consecrated together on 24 Sep 1952. The ceremony was held in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo with the Apostolic Delegate (Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, later Cardinal) serving as the Principal Consecrator. Bishops Raymond Augustine Kearney (Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo) and James Henry Ambrose Griffiths (Auxiliary of the Military Vicariate) were the Principal Co-Consecrators.
Oddly enough, Bishops Kearney and Griffiths had both been ordained priests together in Rome by Archbishop Giuseppe Palica (Vicegerent of Rome) on 12 Mar 1927 for the Buffalo Diocese.
Bishop Navagh was named Bishop of Ogdensburg in May 1957.
Almost 6 years later on 12 Feb 1963, Bishop Navagh was named Bishop of Paterson, New Jersey. His replacement in Ogdensburg was, of course, Bishop Smith!
Both bishops had attended the first session of the Second Vatican Council in Rome in 1962. And they both returned in the Fall of 1963 for its 2nd session.
Bishop Leo Smith died early in that session in Rome on 9 Oct 1963.
Bishop James Navagh attended all of the sessions in Rome, but then he also died early in that last session on 2 Oct 1965.
May they rest in peace.
Bishop James Johnston Navagh was born in 1901 in Buffalo. Bishop Leo Richard Smith was born in 1905 in Attica.
They were both ordained priests for the Buffalo Diocese on Saturday 21 Dec 1929. But they occurred more than 4,000 miles (7,000 km) apart. Smith was ordained first, in San Giovanni in Laterano Cathedral Basilica in Rome, Italy by Basilio Cardinal Pompilj (Archpriest of that Basilica and Vicar General of Rome). Navagh was ordained in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo by Bishop William Turner.
Fate would bring them together again in the summer of 1952. On 29 Jul 1952, Navagh was named Auxiliary Bishop of Raleigh, NC. A day later, Smith was named Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo.
Since they were both priests serving in the Buffalo diocese at the time, they were consecrated together on 24 Sep 1952. The ceremony was held in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo with the Apostolic Delegate (Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, later Cardinal) serving as the Principal Consecrator. Bishops Raymond Augustine Kearney (Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo) and James Henry Ambrose Griffiths (Auxiliary of the Military Vicariate) were the Principal Co-Consecrators.
Oddly enough, Bishops Kearney and Griffiths had both been ordained priests together in Rome by Archbishop Giuseppe Palica (Vicegerent of Rome) on 12 Mar 1927 for the Buffalo Diocese.
Bishop Navagh was named Bishop of Ogdensburg in May 1957.
Almost 6 years later on 12 Feb 1963, Bishop Navagh was named Bishop of Paterson, New Jersey. His replacement in Ogdensburg was, of course, Bishop Smith!
Both bishops had attended the first session of the Second Vatican Council in Rome in 1962. And they both returned in the Fall of 1963 for its 2nd session.
Bishop Leo Smith died early in that session in Rome on 9 Oct 1963.
Bishop James Navagh attended all of the sessions in Rome, but then he also died early in that last session on 2 Oct 1965.
May they rest in peace.
21 April 2024
Religious Orders in Recent Times (top dozen, charts, 2024)
I've updated a few charts that look at the number of priests and members of religious orders over the last several decades. To avoid it looking like spaghetti, I only used the top dozen orders based on number of priests*. I also split the top 4 from the other 8 - there is very little overlap between the two sets and it makes the charts much clearer.
The charts are posted here. (.pdf format)
The Jesuits were the first order (of the top dozen) to have lost more than half of their members from their recent high point (from 36,038 in 1966 to 17,908 in 2011). They are currently at 14,195 members, down 61% from the all time high.
One might note that there is no significant change in the trends (positive or negative) since Pope Francis (a Jesuit) became Pope. In fairness, it normally takes several years for any event in a religious order (or diocese) to have an impact on the vocation numbers. In the case of the Jesuits, they also have a much longer formation process than most, meaning it could take even longer.
Two more orders reached that milestone in 2016: Franciscans (now down 55%) and Oblates of Mary Immaculate (now down 54%).
Two more orders reached that point in 2022: Redemptorists (down 51%) and Vincentians/Lazarists (down 52%).
In terms of priests, only four orders have reached that point, the Benedictines which are down 54% from their recent high point (from 7,058 in the early 1970s to 3,420 in 2019) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate which reached it in 2021 (from 5,441 in 1967 to 2,643) down 52% now).
The charts are posted here. (.pdf format)
The Jesuits were the first order (of the top dozen) to have lost more than half of their members from their recent high point (from 36,038 in 1966 to 17,908 in 2011). They are currently at 14,195 members, down 61% from the all time high.
One might note that there is no significant change in the trends (positive or negative) since Pope Francis (a Jesuit) became Pope. In fairness, it normally takes several years for any event in a religious order (or diocese) to have an impact on the vocation numbers. In the case of the Jesuits, they also have a much longer formation process than most, meaning it could take even longer.
Two more orders reached that milestone in 2016: Franciscans (now down 55%) and Oblates of Mary Immaculate (now down 54%).
Two more orders reached that point in 2022: Redemptorists (down 51%) and Vincentians/Lazarists (down 52%).
In terms of priests, only four orders have reached that point, the Benedictines which are down 54% from their recent high point (from 7,058 in the early 1970s to 3,420 in 2019) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate which reached it in 2021 (from 5,441 in 1967 to 2,643) down 52% now).
In 2022 the Jesuits were down 50% (from 21,025 in 1969 to 10,432), now down 51%.
This year the Franciscans were added to the list, down 51% (from 16,528 in 1967 to 8,140.
In the top dozen, only one order, Divine Word Missionaries, has hit its high mark in terms of members in recent years (6,131 in 2009).
In terms of priests, two orders hit their highest mark in 2016: Divine Word Missionaries with 4,231 and Discalced Carmelites with 2,937.
The Discalced Carmelites had the best year of the top 12, increasing their number of priests by 4.
Overall, adding all of the top 12 together, the all time high was in 1966 with 160,926 total members. In 2023, that had dropped 46% to 87,101. In terms of priests, the high was in 1971 with 95,411 total priests. In 2023, that had dropped 37% to 60,322.
If current trends continue, the Jesuits will lose the title of the largest religious order to the Salesians of Saint John Bosco soon. The number of members should cross in about 2 years. In addition the Jesuits should fall under 10,000 priests about the same time.
(* Out of curiosity I checked the top dozen orders based on number of members - it was the same dozen, but in a slightly different order.)
Note that only Male Religious Orders were included because that happens to be the data I have readily available. As time permits, I hope to do similar charts for Female Religious Orders. A few have already been added to the main website.
In the top dozen, only one order, Divine Word Missionaries, has hit its high mark in terms of members in recent years (6,131 in 2009).
In terms of priests, two orders hit their highest mark in 2016: Divine Word Missionaries with 4,231 and Discalced Carmelites with 2,937.
The Discalced Carmelites had the best year of the top 12, increasing their number of priests by 4.
Overall, adding all of the top 12 together, the all time high was in 1966 with 160,926 total members. In 2023, that had dropped 46% to 87,101. In terms of priests, the high was in 1971 with 95,411 total priests. In 2023, that had dropped 37% to 60,322.
If current trends continue, the Jesuits will lose the title of the largest religious order to the Salesians of Saint John Bosco soon. The number of members should cross in about 2 years. In addition the Jesuits should fall under 10,000 priests about the same time.
(* Out of curiosity I checked the top dozen orders based on number of members - it was the same dozen, but in a slightly different order.)
Note that only Male Religious Orders were included because that happens to be the data I have readily available. As time permits, I hope to do similar charts for Female Religious Orders. A few have already been added to the main website.
01 January 2024
Possible USA Catholic Hierarchy Changes for 2024
- Cardinals
- Seán Patrick Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, turns 80 on 29 Jun. He is very likely to retire on or before that date.
- Christophe Louis Yves Georges Cardinal Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to United States of America turns 78 on 30 Jan. No indication when he will retire.
- Wilton Daniel Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, District of Columbia turned 76 on 7 Dec. While he is eligible to retire, I suspect he will remain in office.
- Blase Joseph Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, Illinois turns 75 on 19 Mar. I suspect he will remain in his post for a few more years.
- Daniel Nicholas Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Texas turns 75 on 23 May. His retirement is certainly possible, especially after some health issues about 5 years ago, but it is difficult to say.
- Archbishops (not already covered above)
Over 75 (could retire at any time)- Archbishop Dennis Marion Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, Ohio turned 75 on 21 Jun 2023.
- Archbishop Allen Henry Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit, Michigan turned 75 on 21 Oct 2023.
- Turning 75 in 2024
- Archbishop Jerome Edward Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin turns 75 on 12 Mar.
- Archbishop Thomas John Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, Alabama turns 75 on 27 Mar.
- Archbishop Leonard Paul Blair, Archbishop of Hartford, Connecticut turns 75 on 12 Apr.
Received a Coadjutor, Archbishop Christopher James Coyne on 26 Jun 2023. - Archbishop Joseph Fred Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas turns 75 on 4 Jun.
- Archbishop George Joseph Lucas, Archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska turns 75 on 12 Jun.
- Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, Louisiana turns 75 on 12 Nov.
- Bishops (ordinaries)
Over 75 (could retire at any time)- Bishop Dennis Joseph Sullivan, Bishop of Camden, New Jersey turned 75 on 17 Mar 2020.
- Bishop Robert Peter Deeley, Bishop of Portland, Maine turned 75 on 18 Jun 2021.
- Bishop Salvatore Ronald Matano, Bishop of Rochester, New York turned 75 on 15 Sep 2021.
- Bishop Mark Edward Brennan, Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia turned 75 on 6 Feb 2022.
- Bishop Ralph Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa turned 75 on 28 May 2022.
- Bishop Liam Stephen Cary, Bishop of Baker, Oregon turned 75 on 21 Aug 2022.
- Bishop Edward Bernard Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany, New York turned 75 on 29 May 2023.
- Bishop Patrick James Zurek, Bishop of Amarillo, Texas turned 75 on 17 Aug 2023.
- Turning 75 in 2024
- Bishop Michael Richard Cote, Bishop of Norwich, Connecticut turns 75 on 19 Jun.
- Bishop Clarence Richard Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, Hawaii turns 75 on 6 Aug
- Bishop Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, Louisiana turns 75 on 9 Aug.
- Bishop William Michael Mulvey, Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas turns 75 on 23 Aug.
- Bishop David Allen Zubik, Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania turns 75 on 4 Sep.
- Bishop James Anthony Tamayo, Bishop of Laredo, Texas turns 75 on 23 Oct.
- Bishop David Dennis Kagan, Bishop of Bismarck, North Dakota turns 75 on 9 Nov.
Already Vacant
(All are Dioceses/Eparchies)
- Burlington, Vermont, since 26 Jun 2023
- Davenport, Iowa, since 26 Jul 2023
- Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix (Ruthenian), Arizona, since 23 Aug 2021
- Knoxville, Tennessee, since 27 Jun 2023
- Steubenville, Ohio, since 28 Sep 2023
- Tyler, Texas, since 11 Nov 2023
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