In addition to receiving the red biretta and the ring, during the consistory on Saturday, September 30th, the Pope will assign a church in Rome to each new cardinal, whether it is a presbyteral title or a diaconate, as a sign of his pastoral care for the city.
Currently, there are 12 vacant presbyteral titles, which are assigned to cardinals of the Order of Priests. These include Saints Ambrose and Charles, which have been vacant since 2017, with the last holder being Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi. St. Anthony of Padua on Via Merulana has been vacant since 2022 due to the passing of Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes. St. Balbina became vacant last March when the Pope assigned the title of Santa Maria Nuova to Cardinal Erdo. St. Gregory the Great at Magliana Nuova recently became vacant with the passing of Brazilian Cardinal Agnelo. St. Luke on Via Prenestina has been vacant since 2021 following the death of Brazilian Cardinal Falcao Freire. St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello became vacant at the beginning of the year with the death of Cardinal George Pell. St. Mary Immaculate of Lourdes on Via Boccea has been vacant since the end of 2022 due to the death of Ghanaian Cardinal Baawobr, who couldn’t take possession due to his precarious health. St. Mary in Monserrato degli Spagnoli became vacant in 2022 after the death of Spanish Cardinal Amigo Vallejo. St. Onofrio has been vacant since 2015 following the death of Cardinal Carlo Furno. St. Sabina became vacant in 2022 after the death of Cardinal Jozef Tomko. St. Sofia on Via Boccea has been vacant since 2017 due to the death of Ukrainian Cardinal Huzar, and St. Susanna has been vacant since 2017 after the passing of American Cardinal Law.
There are currently 11 vacant diaconates, including St. Angelo in Pescheria, which has been vacant since 2019 and was last assigned to Cardinal Elio Sgreccia. Ss. Guardian Angels in Città Giardino became vacant in 2022 and was assigned to Cardinal Cacciavillan. In 2011, it was elevated pro hac vice to a presbyteral title. St. Anthony of Padua on Circonvallazione Appia has been vacant since 2023 and was assigned to Cardinal Rauber. St. Benedict outside Porta San Paolo has been vacant since 2019 and was last assigned to Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, elevated pro hac vice to a presbyteral title in 1999. St. Philip Neri in Eurosia has been vacant since 2017 and was assigned to Cardinal Nicora. St. Joseph at Trionfale has been vacant since 2022 and was assigned to Cardinal Poletto, but as a presbyteral title pro illa vice. St. Mary Help of Christians on Via Tuscolana has been vacant since 2019 and was assigned to Cardinal Paolo Sardi. St. Maria Goretti has been vacant since 2019 and was assigned to Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech. St. Mary in Cosmedin has been vacant since 1967 and was last assigned to Cardinal Roberti. Ss. Names of Jesus and Mary on Via Lata has been vacant since 2022 and was assigned to Cardinal De Magistris. Finally, Ss. Urban and Lawrence at Prima Porta has been vacant since 2017 and was assigned to Swiss Cardinal Agustoni.
It’s important to note that the Pope may not necessarily assign all the vacant presbyteral titles and diaconates, as he has the option to establish new ones, as he has done throughout his pontificate. For instance, Pope Francis established the diaconate of Santa Maria del Divino Amore in Castel di Leva and the presbyteral titles of Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio, San Giuda Taddeo Apostolo, and Sant’Egidio.
