Is Pope Francis really considering a female cardinal?

There is an article making its way through the internet which confidently claims that "Pope Francis contemplates a female cardinal."

There are two clear reasons we can be certain this article is absolute rubbish.

The first is found in the article's opening words: "It's not a joke."  Let's be honest: If an article begins in such a way, it is, in fact, a joke and lacks any foundation in reality.

The second is found in a claim of Dr. Phylis Zagano, who is an advocate of the ordination of women to the diaconate (and whose claims I refuted some years ago, I admit, rather snarkily).

In discussing Dr. Zagano's claims, the author, Juan Arias from Rio de Janiero, claims that "any woman who is appointed deaconess can indeed become a cardinal without having to change canonical law."

In point of fact, this runs quite contrary to the Code of Canon Law, specifically canon 351 § 1, which reads:

The Roman Pontiff freely selects men to be promoted as cardinals, who have been ordained at least into the order of the presbyterate and are especially outstanding in doctrine, morals, piety, and prudence in action; those who are not yet bishops must receive episcopal consecration.

As I said, the article is rubbish. This article is yet another reason why you cannot and should not trust secular reports on the life of the Church.