Cardinal Williams turning 80
Wednesday 17 March 2010
by NZ CATHOLIC STAFF
WELLINGTON - With Cardinal Thomas Williams's 80th birthday this month, New Zealand will lose its lone representative among cardinals able to vote at a conclave to elect a new pope.
In 1970, an age limit for cardinal electors was set by Pope Paul VI. Cardinal Williams turns 80 on March 20, but he will remain a member of the College of Cardinals and can attend consistories - meetings called by the pope.
He would also still be able to attend meetings called "congregations" held at the Vatican between the death of a pope and a conclave.
Among the duties of the "congregations" is arranging the papal funeral and fixing the time and date of a conclave.
There were 13 such meetings in 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II. More than 30 cardinals aged 80 or older participated in those meetings that year.
Cardinal Williams was a cardinal elector at the conclave at which Pope Benedict XVI was elected.
Ordained a priest in 1959, Cardinal Williams was consecrated Archbishop of Wellington in 1979. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 1983 by Pope John Paul II.