Pope to appoint 21 new cardinals

Vatican City: Pope Francis said Sunday he would appoint 21 new cardinals around the world at the end of August to reflect “a wide variety of cultures” within the Catholic Church.

The announcement of new appointments had been expected for several months because the number of cardinals eligible to participate in the election of a new pope had fallen. Cardinals must be under 80 to participate in the vote.

“On Saturday, August 27, I will hold a consistory for the creation of new cardinals,” the pontiff said after his weekly Sunday prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

“They represent the Church worldwide and reflect a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and pastoral ministries,” he said.

Eight of the newly appointed cardinals are from Europe, six from Asia, two from Africa, one from North America and four from Central and Latin America, the Vatican said.

This will be the eighth consistory under Pope Francis.