New Mexican Catholic cardinal is a champion of the poor

The Vatican has named Archbishop Francisco Robles of Mexico as a cardinal. Abp. Robles is not a liberation theologian, but is associated with more progressive church sectors.

"Ill-gotten and ill-used riches close our heart," Robles said in a homily two Sundays ago. "We can pass our lives without even realizing the existence of the poor, the needy, the people who require our help."

Robles' ascension to cardinal comes at a crucial time for the Catholic church in Mexico. Millions of Mexicans have converted to Protestant faiths, and many of the remaining 85 million Catholics rarely attend Mass or receive sacraments.

While the Mexican senior clergy remains dominated by conservatives, many of its parish priests and nuns, especially those in impoverished communities, favor the so-called theology of liberation, which preaches a "preferential option for the poor."

However, the article also indicates that Benedict may have increased the number of Western European cardinals over cardinals from the rest of the world (including the rest of the West).

With the 23 new cardinals named this week, the pope seems to have bolstered the clergy in Europe over those in the Western Hemisphere and the developing world. Ten of the 18 new cardinals hail from Europe, and Europeans now make up half of the body that will vote for any future pope.