Pope Francis appointed as new Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela), Cardinal Baltazar Porras Cardozo, who is 78 years old, an unusual age for the appointment of a bishop in the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Porras was, until now, Archbishop of Merida and Apostolic Administrator of Caracas. That is to say; he was temporarily in charge of this jurisdiction.

The Holy Father appointed Cardinal Porras as Apostolic Administrator of Caracas on July 9, 2018.

On the same day, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the previous Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, who was then 75 years old.

Cardinal Urosa, a staunch defender of Catholic doctrine, life, and the family, died on September 23, 2021, at the age of 79, from complications of Covid.

Why is the appointment of Cardinal Porras as Archbishop unusual?

The Code of Canon Law states in canon 401 that the age for the retirement of bishops is 75 years.

"A diocesan bishop who has reached seventy-five years of age is requested to present the resignation of his office to the Supreme Pontiff, who will provide, taking into account all the circumstances," the canon states.

That was indeed what happened with Cardinal Urosa in 2018, who was then just over 75 years old and whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father. However, it is the pope's power to accept or not the resignation of the bishop who submits it.

In the case of Cardinal Porras, his appointment as Archbishop of Caracas is given at the age of 78, three years after the regular age of the resignation of bishops.

About his appointment, Cardinal Porras said on his Twitter account that "it comes to be a greater and permanent commitment of service to this multifaceted city, capital of the Republic, and center of irradiation in all orders for the good of the nation."

"We have to be builders of hope, of innovative initiatives so that fraternity and respect for others may lead us along paths of material and spiritual progress. The signs of the times are a challenge to impregnate them with the love that the following Jesus gives us", assured the Venezuelan Cardinal.