VATICAN CITY, MAR (ZENIT.org).- On March 1, Cardinal Simon Ignatius Pimenta, Archbishop Emeritus of Bombay, turned 80. Next Friday, March 17, Philippine Cardinal Jose T. Sanchez, Prefect Emeritus of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, will also be 80. Thus, on March 17 there will be only 103 electoral Cardinals eligible for a conclave, as only those younger than 80 are permitted by Canon Law to vote for a new Pope.

    On May 15 Lebanese Cardinal Pierre Nasrallah Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, will celebrate his 80th birthday, as will Lithuanian Cardinal Vicentas Sladkevicius on August 20, U.S. Cardinal James A. Hickey on October 11, and Brazilian Cardinal Eugenio Sales de Araujo on November 8. Consequently, at the end of 2000 the list of electoral Cardinals will be decreased by at least another 4. For this reason, it is expected that Pope John Paul II will announce a consistory during this Jubilee year to create new Cardinals. ZE00031004