VATICAN CITY
ITV (UK)
[with list]
The Pope has named 20 new senior religious leaders from 14 countries as diverse as Vietnam, Tonga, Ethiopia and Mexico in an effort to unite the Catholic church around the world.
Pope Francis announced that he will hold the special ceremony to install 15 new cardinals, known as a consistory, at the Vatican on February 14.
He has also named five new archbishops and bishops emeriti.
The new cardinals, many of whom are under 80, have been appointed to the elite group of religious leaders at the top of the Roman Catholic herarchy – meaning they will be allowed to enter the conclave to choose his successor after his death or resignation.
He said that by choosing new religious leaders from many different countries from every continent, he wanted to “show the inseparable bond between the Church of Rome and the particular churches around the world.”
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