Baltazar Porras is created cardinal of the Catholic Church

[G.O.G]

Pope Francisco created cardinal to the archbishop of Mérida, Monsignor Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, who imposed this Saturday the birreta cardinal and delivered the ring, symbol of his universal commitment with the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Porras Cardozo was one of the 17 cardinals - 13 electors and 4 non-electors -, created by Jorge Bergoglio in his third consistory and who are thus incorporated into the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church.

This is the third consistory of Francis since the beginning of his pontificate in March 2013 and this time the Pontiff chose to designate with the purple 17 new cardinals from 11 countries of the five continents, in a gesture that relates to the "universality of the church".

Baltazar Porras was president of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) for two consecutive terms, from 1999 to 2006, as well as vice president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) between 2007 and 2011.

He studied Philosophy at the Interdiocesan Seminary in Caracas and received his degree in Theology from the Pontifical University of the Spanish city of Salamanca, where he also received a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology.

On July 30, 1983, he was elected titular bishop of Lamdia and Auxiliary of Mérida, while Pope John Paul II appointed him on October 30, 1991 as Archbishop of Merida.

The ceremony, celebrated this Saturday in the Basilica of St. Peter's of the Vatican, began with the greeting of the first of the new cardinals, the apostolic nuncio in Syria, Mario Zenari, who expressed to the Pope a few words of gratitude.

Later, the Pope delivered a homily in which he criticized the indifference and asked the new cardinals to "be merciful."

"The election, instead of keeping them on top of the mountain, at its summit, leads them to the heart of the multitude, puts them in the midst of their torments, in the plain of their lives. Amen, do good, bless and pray. "

He affirmed that these are actions that are easily carried out with friends or close people but stressed that they also have to be put into practice with what he called "enemies."

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who defame you."