Pew Research Center
 

 

November 25, 2020

 

Religion & Public Life

 

A weekly digest of the Center's latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗

 

 
 

Under Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals has become less European

 

Unless his reign is short, a Roman Catholic pontiff will appoint most of the men who vote for his successor. But Pope Francis’ additions to the College of Cardinals since his election in 2013 also have served another purpose – tilting the leadership structure of the Roman Catholic Church away from its historic European base and toward developing nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The pope recently announced that he will appoint nine new voting cardinals (in addition to four other cardinals who are over 80 and therefore ineligible to vote). After this latest group is elevated at a Nov. 28 ceremony in Vatican City, the College of Cardinals will have 128 voting members, 42% of whom are European, down from 52% in 2013. An updated Fact Tank post has details.

 
 

Media mentions

 

In rural East Tennessee, a mobile clinic run by nuns and aging volunteers cares for the body and the soul
Nov. 23 - Religion News Service

Churches push back against coronavirus restrictions
Nov. 20 - The Wall Street Journal*
 

 

In the news

 

China mulls new rules on foreigners to ‘prohibit religious extremism’
Nov. 25 - CNN

Pope decries plight of Chinese Uighurs as new Catholic bishop is ordained in China
Nov. 24 - The Wall Street Journal*

India’s most populous state criminalizes ‘forced’ religious conversions by marriage
Nov. 24 - Reuters

Washington’s soon-to-be cardinal says he won’t deny Joe Biden Communion
Nov. 24 - Catholic News Service

U.S. bishops’ internal memo: Catholics can take COVID-19 vaccines
Nov. 23 - America*

Catholic Church cancels Guadalupe pilgrimage over pandemic
Nov. 23 - The Associated Press

With a kiss, Netflix gets tangled in India’s religious tensions
Nov. 23 - The New York Times*

Biden gives new hope to refugees fleeing religious persecution
Nov. 20 - NPR

Serbian church patriarch dies from COVID-19 after leading open-casket funeral of bishop killed by the virus
Nov. 20 - CNN

Alleging sex abuse, four sue Vatican over handling of McCarrick
Nov. 19 - The Associated Press
 

 
 

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