VATICAN-Archbishop Fernando Filoni among the Cardinals named by the Pope, together with two Asian Bishops

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - At the end of the Angelus on the solemnity of the Epiphany, January 6, the Holy Father Benedict XVI announced for February 18 a Consistory in which he will proceed to the appointment of 22 new Cardinals". As is well known - said the Pope - the Cardinals have the task of helping the Successor of Peter in carrying out his Ministry of confirming the brethren in the faith, and to be the principle and foundation of unity and communion of the Church".
Archbishop Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples is among the names of the new Cardinals. His Eminence Archbishop Fernando Filoni was born in Manduria, Diocese of Oria and province of Taranto (Italy) April 15, 1946. He was ordained a priest on July 3, 1970. Incardinated in the diocese of Nardo. He graduated in Philosophy and Canon Law. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on April 3, 1981, he served at the Pontifical Representations in Sri Lanka and Iran, at the Secretary of State, in Brazil and the Philippines. On 17 January 2001 he was appointed at titular see of Volturno, with dignity of Archbishop and appointed apostolic nuncio to Jordan and Iraq. He received episcopal ordination from the Blessed John Paul II in St. Peter's Basilica March 19, 2001. On 25 February 2006 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines. On June 9, 2007, Benedict XVI appointed him as Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, and on May 10, 2011 appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
His Beatitude George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar (India) and Mgr. John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong (China), from mission territories are also among the new Cardinals. (Agenzia Fides 07/01/2012)