Vatican City (Rome) [Italy], May 21 (ANI): Pope Francis on Sunday made an announcement that he would elevate 14 churchmen to the rank of cardinals in the Catholic Church.

The new cardinals are from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Iraq, Pakistan, Japan, Madagascar, Peru, Mexico and Bolivia, according to a section of media reports.

The Pope noted that the places from which the new cardinals come "Expresses the universality of the Church, which continues to announce the merciful love of God to all men and women on earth."

The consistory, that is, the ceremony for the creation of new cardinals, will take place in Rome on June 29, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the report said.

Eleven of those new cardinals are under 80, which states that they will be active participants in a future conclave to choose Francis's successor.

This will be Francis's fifth consistory after previous events in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

The total number of cardinals will be 227 after the induction of the new cardinals in June. (ANI)

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