Vatican City: Pope Francis is expanding the ranks of cardinals who will elect his successor to include pastors like him who minister to the poor and come from far-flung, often overlooked dioceses.
Francis was formally elevating the 20 new cardinals at a ceremony Saturday in St Peter's Basilica.
Retired Pope Benedict XVI was on hand in a unique blending of popes past, present and future.
This is Francis' second consistory creating new cardinals and once again he looked to the "peripheries" of the church to give greater geographic representation to the Europe-centric College of Cardinals.
One of the new cardinals was too old to make the trip and will be receiving his red hat at home: Jose de Jesus Pimiento Rodriguez of Colombia, who turns 96 next week.
