With naming of two new cardinals, U.S. contingent will number 15

Published: 2006-02-22

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After the March 24 consistory for the creation of new cardinals, 15 of the 193 members of the College of Cardinals will be from the United States. Pope Benedict XVI expanded the U.S. contingent in the college Feb. 22 when he announced he would give the red hat to Archbishop William J. Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and former archbishop of San Francisco, and to Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley of Boston. After the consistory, the U.S. contingent will be second in size only to the Italians. Of the 15 U.S. cardinals, 13 will be under age 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.

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