Pope Francis has named 17 new cardinals who come from 15 different countries Rex FeaturesPope Francis has named 17 new cardinals from six different continents, many of whom will eventually vote to decide his successor. It is the third time in three years that the Pope, originally from Argentina, has made new appointments to the College of Cardinals, each time breaking with tradition by promoting members from a diverse range of backgrounds. The new cardinals come from 15 different countries, including Bangladesh, Mauritius and Venezuela. Pope Francis is the first non-European head of the Catholic Church for 1,300 years. Naming cardinals is seen as a crucial process in the Vatican because selecting like-minded appointees gives the Pope greater influence over the direction of…

Source: The Times November 19, 2016 17:59 UTC