Sunday, after the Angelus in St. Peter's Square in Rome, Pope Francis has announced the names of 19 new cardinals (including 16 college voters under 80 years) from 12 nations, that will be created in the Consistory of 22 February. This is the first appointments of the pontificate of Pope Francis, who elevated to Cardinal, Bishop of Les Cayes, Mgr Chibly Langlois, also President of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti, who became the first cardinal in history to represent Haiti in the highest sphere of the Roman Catholic Church.

"We pray for the new cardinals, so that coated with virtues and feelings of the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, they can more effectively assist the bishop of Rome in his service to the Universal Church," the Pope asked.

With this designation the church of Haiti is now equal with the Church of the Dominican Republic led by Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez (Archbishop of Santo Domingo).

Among the 16 cardinals Mgr Langlois Chibly 55 is the youngest of the 16 cardinals, the oldest being Archbishop Loris Francesco Capovilla, titular archbishop of Mesembria, former secretary of John XXIII (Italy), 98 years old.

At the announcement of the news Archbishop Chibly Langlois declared "I particularly, who just received this news, it's a surprise to me [...] I welcome the appointment, made ​​by Pope Francis, as a favor to Haiti. This is not my person, but the Haitian Roman Catholic Church that I am a servant, an instrument of God [...] this appointment will help to focus attention on Haiti, especially on our Roman Catholic Church, whose realities, needs and challenges, will be worn much higher."

Learn more about Mgr Chibly Langlois :

Born 29 November 1958 in the Valley of Jacmel, he entered the Grand Séminaire of Our Lady of Port-au-Prince in 1985 and was ordained priest on 22 September 1991. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Fort-Liberté (where he will spend 7 years), on April 8, 2004. Since 15 August 2011, Mgr Chibly Langlois has the same rank in Les Cayes by decision of Pope Benedict XVI.

HL/ HaitiLibre