Archbishop Martin ‘may be appointed as cardinal this week’
The Archbishop of Dublin could reportedly be appointed as a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.
Reports this morning said speculation was mounting that the Pontiff was planning to call a consistory to choose new cardinals and may even announce the move as early as this week.
There are currently 10 vacancies among the Vatican's elector cardinals, but two more positions are due to become available in March when Ireland's Desmond Connell and Cardinal Bernard Agre of the Ivory Coast celebrate their 80th birthdays.
This morning's reports said Dr Diarmuid Martin was seen as a likely candidate due to the declining authority of the Catholic Church in Ireland and his acquaintance with Pope Benedict over the past 20 years.
