VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis created 13 new cardinals on Saturday — including the first African-American — putting his personal stamp on the body that will one day choose his successor. The 72-year-old Archbishop of Washington, Wilton Gregory, told AFP on Friday he was a “symbolic individual” for being made the first African-American cardinal. Since Francis’ election in 2013, the Argentine pope — the first from the Americas — has created 95 new cardinals in ceremonies known as consistories. The Philippines’ Advincula said he believed the pope chose him to acknowledge Catholics living in far-flung areas from Rome. Francis also named the archbishop of Washington DC, Wilton Gregory, the first African-American to become cardinal.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 28, 2020 17:26 UTC