VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Sunday introduced he’ll appoint 21 new cardinals of the worldwide Catholic Church, in an sudden push to affect the highly effective group of churchmen that can someday select his successor.

The ceremony to put in the brand new appointees, often known as a consistory, will probably be held on December 8, the 87-year-old pope introduced throughout his weekly noon-time prayer with pilgrims and vacationers in St. Peter’s Sq..

Will probably be the tenth consistory known as by the pope since his election 11 years in the past as the primary pontiff from Latin America.

Though popes might select to nominate cardinals at any time, Francis’s determination to make new appointments now comes as one thing of a shock.

As of the pope’s announcement there have been 122 cardinals underneath 80 and in a position to vote in a future conclave. Church legislation technically limits the variety of such cardinals to 120, however current popes have ceaselessly gone above that quantity.

Two of the cardinals presently in a position to vote in a conclave will age out by the top of the yr. An additional 13 will cross the edge by means of the top of 2025.

All cardinals, no matter their age, are allowed to participate in pre-conclave conferences, often known as Normal Congregations, giving them a say in the kind of particular person they suppose the youthful cardinals ought to select.

Cardinals rank second solely to the pope within the Church hierarchy and function his closest advisers. On account of their historic energy and affect, they’re nonetheless known as the princes of the Church, though Francis has advised them to not stay like royalty and to be near the poor.