Pope Francis declared on Sunday that he will appoint 21 new cardinals for the global Catholic Church, marking an unforeseen move to shape the influential group of churchmen who will eventually select his successor. The installation ceremony for these new appointees, referred to as a consistory, is scheduled for December 8, as announced by the 87-year-old pope during his customary Sunday noon-time prayer with pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's Square.
This will be the tenth consistory convened by Pope Francis since his election 11 years ago, making him the first pontiff from Latin America. While popes have the discretion to appoint cardinals at any time, Francis's decision to do so now is somewhat unexpected. As of the pope's announcement, there were 122 cardinals under 80 years old who are eligible to vote in a future conclave. Church law technically restricts the number of such cardinals to 120, but recent popes have often exceeded this limit.
Two of the current voting cardinals will reach the age limit by the end of the year, and an additional 13 will do so by the end of 2025. Regardless of their age, all cardinals are permitted to participate in pre-conclave meetings, known as General Congregations, where they can influence the choice of the younger cardinals.
Cardinals hold the second-highest rank in the Church hierarchy, just below the pope, and act as his closest advisors. Due to their historical significance and influence, they are still referred to as the princes of the Church, although Pope Francis has urged them to avoid living like royalty and to remain close to the poor.
