VATICAN CITY:
Pope Francis said on Sunday he would elevate 14 churchmen
from five continents to the rank of cardinal, picking candidates that work with the poor or where Catholics are in a minority and putting his stamp on the group that will elect his successor. Making the surprise announcement during his weekly Sunday address, the
Pope said the new
cardinals came
from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Iraq, Pakistan, Japan, Madagascar, Peru, Mexico and Bolivia. They will be given their traditional red hats at a ceremony known as a consistory on June 29. Eleven of the group are under 80, the age limit for entering the secret conclave that will be called to elect a new
Pope once
Francis dies or retires. These new appointments will bring the number of so-called elector
cardinals to 125,
five more than the limit of 120 established by
Pope Paul VI for a conclave.
Francis will have named almost half of the group since becoming pontiff in 2013.If a conclave has to be called before any other cardinal turns 80, the electors would have to draw lots to see which
five men would be barred
from the gathering.
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