The Secret Cardinal

Pope John Paul II created 31 cardinals today, although only 30 of the names were announced.

According to an article in the Guardian Unlimited: "The 31st (cardinal's) name was kept secret, or `in pectore.' That's a Vatican formula often used when the pope wants to name a cardinal in a country where the church is oppressed."

Thomas J. Reese, editor of America. (See post below for more information about him) says the "the best guess is that he is Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong. Others have suggested Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz (the pope's personal secretary), Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston, or the Latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem."

Reese points out that past cardinals in pectore have been from "Communist countries where the government would oppose the appointment." Example: Cardinal Ignatius Gong Pinmei of Shanghai, who spent 30 years in a Chinese prison, was made a cardinal "'in pectore" in 1979.

The Guardian article also explains that an unnamed cardinal doesn't have any of the duties of cardinal until his name is published. Even if he is under age 80, he wouldn't be able to vote for the new pope unless John Paul II names him before he dies.