Finally! Joseph Ratzinger, better known as Pope Benedict XVI, made the announcement today: Archbishop John P. Foley, Journalism ’66, will be one of 23 new cardinals in November. According to the International Herald Tribune, Foley had “long been considered a candidate” for the job. At the fresh young age of 72, he’s eligible to vote for pope for the next eight years.

Foley had been known for his work in Pope John Paul II’s Communications Department (well, technically it’s a pontifical council), and is currently serving as Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Not the most progressive bishop, Foley has run into trouble for his comments on the ordination of women (against) and AIDS (a “natural sanction for certain types of activities.”) On the other hand, he did make technological progress: Alvin Snyder called him “The Roone Arledge of the Vatican” for his work getting the Pope on TV.

But enough about Foley as a pilate. What manner of man is he? Contrary to Columbia tradition, Foley says he’s a teetotaler, but makes up for his avoidance of alcohol with his love of chocohol. As he told Nestle executives, he’s an avid fan of advertisement, saying that good advertisement is “among the best communication being done in the world today.” As a youth, he was inspired by the book You Can Change the World, and as a teenager, enjoyed writing radio plays. Today, he has more of a senior pastime: getting up at 6:00 in the morning to watch CNN (so that he can “know what to pray about.”)

– DHI