VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis created 17 new cardinals from across the globe Saturday, elevating them in a time-honoured ceremony to an elite body that advises and elects popes. Dressed in red robes, the "princes of the Church" knelt before the pontiff to pledge their allegiance in a solemn ceremony. The pope gave each man a three-cornered red hat, telling them that the colour symbolises "your readiness to act with courage, even to the shedding of your blood" for the Catholic Church. The new cardinals were to head to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery inside the Vatican to visit retired pope Benedict XVI. Francis has now named 44 cardinal electors, just over a third of the total of 120 allowed by Church law.

Source: Bangkok Post November 19, 2016 11:46 UTC