Mgr Maurice Piat elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Francis

Pope Francis on Sunday 9 October 2016 appointed 17 new cardinals from across the world on 15 November 2016, 13 of whom are under 80 and therefore eligible to succeed him and among them is Mgr Maurice Piat from Mauritius.

Heading up the list of new cardinals is Mario Zenari who is currently the papal envoy to Syria – a “martyred” country, according to the Pope. Second on the list is Dieudonne Nzapalainga, the archbishop of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, who is the youngest of the 13 new cardinals, aged just 49. 

Among the other senior church leaders from developing countries being promoted to cardinal are Patrick D’Rozario, archbishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Maurice Piat, the bishop of Port Louis in Mauritius.

Francis, the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years, is the son of working class immigrants from Argentina. He frequently shuns the trappings of papal office choosing simpler and less costly alternatives instead. He told the Sunday crowd attending mass before the St Bazilic church on Sunday 9 October that the 17 newly appointed Cardinals would be officially made so on November 19.

After he got news of his appointment as the second Cardinal of Mauritius following Mgr Jean Margeot, who was elevated as Cardinal by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1988, Mgr Maurice Piat expressed astonishment and surprise at the announcement. He resigned as Archbishop this year when he turned 75, as dictated by church policy. 

“I was far from expecting such a consecration. I feel honoured by the confidence shown to me by Pope Francis and I thank him even though I am quite surprised. As you know becoming Cardinal is not only an honour. It is rather more of a responsibility confered upon me, that of being his counsellor and eventually to participate in the election of a new Pope,” said Mgr Piat.

The newly announced cardinal added: “I ask you to pray for me, brothers and sisters of Mauritius whether you are of the Christian faith or of another religion. My nomination as Cardinal appears also to me as an encouragement from the Pope for the Mauritian clergy in this Year of Mercy: an encouragement to continue to accommodate this Mercy that makes us good and to act as humble witnesses of Mercy.”

“Same as this new appointment I wish to place our Church under the protection of Father Laval. Finally I wish to tell you that this new honour heaped upon me is not just for me but for all of you.”

Pravind Kumar Jugnauth

In a message sent to Mgr Maurice Piat on the occasion of his elevation as new Cardinal of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, says: “It is with much joy and pride that I welcome the decision of Pope Francis. The accession of Mgr Maurice Piat to the status of Cardinal is for me a recognition, not only of the Bishop of Port Louis, but also that of the whole nation who enjoys to-day the renewed confidence of the Vatican.”

He added: “The Holy Father has decided to entrust heavy responsibilities to a son of the soil for whom I have great admiration. As a true cleric he has always, through his words and actions, been close to the weak of our society. The commitment of Mgr Piat did not leave the Pope insensible. I am deeply moved as we all know the first duty promised by the Holy Father is to give utmost attention to the most needy amongst us.”

Pravind Jugnauth said that he is convinced that Mgr Piat, who follows the path of late venerable Cardinal Jean Margeot, would surely show himself as a most worthy ambassador of Mauritius.