The American choices were among 17 new cardinals named by Francis. In choosing these new cardinals – the “princes of the church” who serve as the pope’s primary advisers – Francis has made it more likely that his successor will be a moderate or progressive. It also partially balances out the influence of the cardinals chosen by his far more conservative predecessors, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Only 13 of the 17 cardinals Francis has elected will be eligible to vote in the next conclave because of age restrictions. There was only one Italian among the new cardinals: Mario Zenari, the pope’s ambassador to “loved and tormented” Syria.

Source: The Guardian October 10, 2016 11:15 UTC