Pope's new cardinals: Message from God arrives via text

Cardinal-elect John Dew

Beeping cellphone at 3am alerts Archbishop John Dew of Wellington to promotion to College of Cardinals

God's message arrived in an unusual form for new Cardinal-elect John Dew.

The Archbishop of Wellington was sleeping when he was woken by several beeps from his cellphone about 3am.

He was unaware Pope Francis had just announced the names of 15 bishops and archbishops from around the world who would be elevated to the status of cardinal.

"I heard about it just this morning by getting texts from people in the middle of the night," he said.

"The first one was just: 'Congratulations on your new appointment'. Then there was another one saying: 'Prayers for you'. I just thought, 'Oh."'

The 66-year-old grew up in Waipukurau, in central Hawkes Bay. He attended St Joseph's Primary School and St Joseph's College in Masterton.

After leaving school, he worked at a bank before going on to a course in horticulture. But he always felt there was something missing.

"I sort of always knew that - in a way - I was being called to something that would make a difference to other people's lives.

"I started to realise that the call of the Gospel was the only thing that made sense for me. And that's when I knew that I really had to do something about it and explore the possibility of priesthood."

He went on to be ordained as a priest in 1976 and was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Wellington Archdiocese in 1995.

The list of new cardinals has been widely praised for its diversity, with men from Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Tonga is celebrating its first cardinal-elect, Soane Patita Paini Mafi. He grew up in Tonga and was ordained as a priest at the age of 29.

The new cardinals will be officially installed in the College of Cardinals at a ceremony on February 14. There are 228 cardinals.

Cardinal-elect Dew said he would touch base with the Vatican in the next few days.

"My main responsibility will still be [as] the Archbishop of Wellington and making sure that the diocese is still running smoothly," he said.

"I have to try and get to know [the cardinals] and find out what their skills and talents are."

Pacific boasts two new Cardinals-elect

Cardinal-elect John Dew

• Aged 66.
• Grew up in Waipukurau, central Hawkes Bay.
• Ordained as a priest in 1976.
• Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington Archdiocese in 1995.
• Succeeded Cardinal Tom Williams, ONZ, as Archbishop of Wellington in 2005.

Cardinal-elect Soane Patita Paini Mafi

• Aged 53.
• Grew up in Tonga.
• Ordained as a priest in 1991.
• Appointed coadjutor Bishop of Tonga in 2007.
• Succeeded Bishop Soane Lilo Foliaki.

Role of a cardinal

• Advise the Pope.
• Take part - if aged under 80 - in the election of a new pope.