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Pope Francis announces 21 new cardinals

Manuel SchwarzDeutsche Presse Agentur
Pope Francis has announced 21 new cardinals from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Camera IconPope Francis has announced 21 new cardinals from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Credit: EPA

Pope Francis has announced the names of 21 clergy who he will elevate to the rank of cardinal at the end of August.

The pontiff revealed the names to worshippers after the Regina caeli prayer in St Peter's Square on Sunday.

Among the new cardinals, 16 will be eligible to elect a new pope in a conclave, because they are under 80 years old.

They include the United Kingdom's Arthur Roche and Lazzaro You Heung-sik from South Korea as prefects of two congregations in the Roman Curia, and Spain's Fernando Vergez Alzaga as head of the Vatican's state administration.

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They are joined by the Archbishop of Marseille, Jean-Marc Aveline, and other clergy from Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America.

The consistory - a formal meeting of the college of cardinals - on the admission of the new members is scheduled for August 27.

The Pope can select any ordained priest to be included in the college of cardinals.

With the composition of that body, a pontiff can influence the next conclave and thus the election of his successor since a pope is elected from among the cardinals.

After the death of long-time Cardinal Dean Angelo Sodano on Friday, there are currently 208 living cardinals but as of May only 117 of them are eligible to vote in the conclave.

Sixty-seven of them were elected by Francis.

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