Archbishop Thomas Wenski comments on new cardinals

By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami

Miami� (Jan. 14, 2014) Rejoicing with two of South Florida�s ethnic groups, Archbishop Thomas Wenski issued the following comments concerning the appointment of a new Nicaraguan and a new Haitian cardinal for the Catholic Church � both of whom have visited South Florida in the past. The appointments of Bishop Chibly Langlois, 55, of Les Cayes, Haiti, and Archbishop Leopoldo Jose Brenes, 65, of Managua, Nicaragua, were announced Jan. 12 by Pope Francis. They were among 19 new cardinals who will receive their red hats at a consistory Feb. 22 in the Vatican.

Bishop Langlois, who serves as president of the Haitian bishops� conference, is the youngest of the new cardinals, the only one who is not an archbishop, and the first ever Haitian cardinal. He frequently visits South Florida, since Archbishop Wenski hosts many of the meetings of PROCHE � the Partnership for the Reconstruction of the Church in Haiti.

"The choice of Bishop Chibly shows Pope Francis� concern once again for the poor,� Archbishop Wenski said. He noted that the announcement coincided with the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and said �the appointment of Cardinal Langlois, the youngest of those named, will bring much need attention to Haiti and the plight of its people who still struggle to recover from the aftermath of the earthquake as well from the endemic poverty of this island nation of some nine million people.�

Archbishop Brenes is only the second Nicaraguan to be named a cardinal. The other is Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo, retired archbishop of Managua.

Regarding Archbishop Brenes� appointment, Archbishop Wenski said, in Spanish: �Nicaragua recibe su segundo cardinal. Al nombrar el actual arzobispo de Managua, Mons. Leopoldo Jose Brenes, quiso reconocer a una Iglesia que es pobre en recursos materiales pero rica en la fe. El Papa ha dicho que quiere una Iglesia de pobres y una Iglesia para los pobres. Con los nombramientos de los �ltimos cardinales, el papa sigue con su protagonismo a favor de los pobres. Mons. Brenes es bien conocido por la comunidad nica de Miami, pues nos ha visitado en varias ocasiones; y espero tener pronto la oportunidad de darle una calorosa bienvenida cuando venga en una futura visita ya como cardinal�.

The English translation: �Nicaragua receives its second cardinal. In naming Managua�s current archbishop, Leopoldo Jose Brenes, (the pope) wanted to recognize a Church that is poor in material resources but rich in faith. The pope has said he wants a Church of the poor and for the poor. With the naming of these new cardinals, the pope continues his efforts on behalf of the poor. Archbishop Brenes is well known by the �nica� community in Miami, because he has visited us on various occasions; and I hope soon to have the opportunity to give him a warm welcome when he visits us in the future as a cardenal.�

The Archdiocese of Miami
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Media contact: Juan A. Di Prado, Media Coordinator, at (305)762-1046 [email protected], or Mary Ross Agosta, Director of Communications, at (305)762-1043 [email protected].