Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, the leader of the Ethiopian Catholic church, is one of the new cardinals appointed by Pope Francis on Sunday January 4th, 2015. (Photo: The Catholic Herald )
Pope Francis has named 20 new cardinals, including churchmen from Tonga, Ethiopia and Myanmar.
Fifteen of the new appointees are under 80, making them eligible to enter a conclave to elect the Pope’s successor.
Pope Francis said the appointment of cardinals from 14 countries from every continent in the world showed the Vatican’s “inseparable link” with Catholic Churches around the world.
They will be formally installed on 14 February.
Pope Francis also announced on Sunday that he would lead of meeting of all cardinals to discuss reform of the Roman Curia, the Vatican’s administrative body, on 12 and 13 February.
The College of Cardinals is made up of the Church’s most senior officials who are usually ordained bishops.
Read more at BBC News »
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