Religion: a new French cardinal appointed to the Vatican

Jean-Marc Aveline kneels before Pope Francis. The 63-year-old clergyman is one of the Vatican’s new cardinals. “I was surprised, because we are not warned in advance so there was surprise too and then there you go, currently, it is both this experience of being carried by the joy of others, the pride of others, the prayer of others and that is magnificent and at the same time the experience of being dug deep within oneself”explains the new cardinal, Jean-Marc Aveline.

Before being appointed cardinal by Pope Francis, Jean-Marc Aveline was first archbishop in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) and he is very attached to the city of Marseille. The clergyman was born in Algeria. One of Jean-Marc Aveline’s main concerns is poverty and social disparities. Pope Francis is making a choice for the future as his health is increasingly fragile. As a reminder, it is the 132 cardinals who will elect the new Holy Father.