Bishop from Ternopil to become youngest Vatican cardinal
Pravda Ukraine
Pope Francis has chosen 21 new cardinals who will join the body that will elect his successor. Among them is Bishop Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Source: CNN; Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Details: Mykola Bychok is a native of Ternopil who lives in Australia. He has been the Bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church since 2020.
Mykola Bychok is 44 years old, which means he will become the youngest cardinal.
“I, as many others, have received this news with great surprise. I am certainly feeling excited because this appointment is a great privilege. This is not a privilege granted to me personally, but a privilege granted by Pope Francis to the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Catholic Church in Australia,” commented Mykola.
On 8 December, the Pope will hold a Consistory [a gathering of the Sacred College of Cardinals – ed.] to celebrate the new cardinals’ rite of creation.
By updating the list of cardinals, Pope Francis has abandoned the old unwritten rule under which bishops of certain dioceses became cardinals automatically. Instead, he has given the title to bishops from the “periphery”.
Cardinals are second in command to the Pope, acting as his advisers and holding the highest positions in the Vatican. They also elect the new Pope. Although only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in elections, all are welcome to attend meetings.
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