Cardinal Appointment a ‘Shock’ to Tobin
(Image courtesy of The Archdiocese of Indianapolis.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin calls his appointment Sunday as Cardinal by Pope Francis a "vote of confidence" in his work. Tobin, who will be installed into the College of Cardinals next month, says he had no prior knowledge of the appointment.
"When you become a bishop, you get a phone can and you’re asked, ‘Do you accept it or not?’ I guess when you are a bishop, they presume anything else they throw at you, you’ll accept as well," said Tobin told reporters Monday morning.
Tobin said he doesn’t expect the appointment to affect his duties as head of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. However, he says if Pope Francis asks him to perform duties elsewhere, he will do it.
"I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be involved in the archdiocese and beyond because I think of the other churches and synagogues and mosques of this city and I’m friends with most of their leaders but I think something quite unique that I’ve discovered in the last four years here in Indianapolis is that, generally, the major institutions of this city pull together in the same direction," said Tobin. "I find that rather unique and I’d like to remain part of it."
Pope Francis appointed a total of 17 new Cardinals on Sunday. Tobin is one of three Archbishops from the United States to receive the appointment, including Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Dallas Archbishop Kevin Farrell.
Tobin was named an Archbishop in 2010 and was appointed the Archbishop of Indianapolis four years ago by Pope Benedict XVI.
Tobin describes how he heard about the appointment.