Pope Benedict XVI on Friday last week said he will create 22 cardinals in February this year and 18 of the cardinals will have powers to elect his successor when he dies, Walakira Nyanzi reports.
The Pope says that the new cardinals will be appointed at a conference called consistory and it will be held in Vatican Cityon February 18th, 2012.
When the Pope dies, the cardinals are called to find a successor. Many times the cardinals appoint a new Pope amongst themselves. Seven of the new cardinals are fromItaly, others are fromIndia,Canada,UnitesStates ofAmerica, German, Hong Kong and theNetherlands.
In brief 16 come from Europe, one from South America, one from Asia and three fromNorth America. There is no new cardinal fromUganda, East Africa, orOceania. The list of the new cardinals is as follows: Julien Ries, Fernando Filon, Manuel Monteiro De Castro
Santos Abril, Antonio Maria, Giuseppe Bertello, Francisco Coccopalmerio, Joao Braz and Edwin Frederick, Domenico Calcagno, Giuseppe Betori, Willem Jacobus, among others.