VATICAN CITY
Wall Street Journal
By FRANCIS X. ROCCA
Updated Oct. 9, 2016
Pope Francis will create 17 new cardinals next month, including three from the U.S. and a number from the developing world, a move that reflects his goal of rebalancing the college of cardinals toward regions where Catholicism is growing fastest, as well as his preference for liberals over conservatives.
The new U.S. cardinals include the archbishops of Chicago and Indianapolis and a former bishop of Dallas. The pope will also elevate to cardinal the Vatican’s envoy to Syria.
With this batch of cardinals, Pope Francis will have nominated more than a third of the men whose most important task is the election of a new pope. Of the 17 new cardinals named, 13 will qualify as electors.
Pope Francis made the announcement Sunday to a crowd in St. Peter’s Square, saying he would elevate the men to the rank of cardinal at a ceremony on Nov. 19.
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