When Pope Francis appoints new Catholic cardinals, as he did on Sunday, the move is often described as the pontiff pushing to influence the group that one day will select his successor. But while Francis,

Pope Francis has chosen 21 new cardinals in a move that once again shows his determination to reshape the group of churchmen who will elect his successor.

ROME — Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, significantly increasing the size of the College of Cardinals and further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor.

In announcing on Sunday that he would appoint 21 new cardinals, Pope Francis once again elevated clerics from far beyond Catholicism’s traditional centers of power, in line with his vision of a more global,

Pope Francis will appoint 21 new cardinals from around the world, he announced on Sunday, in an unexpected push to influence the powerful group of churchmen that will one day choose his successor.

The pope named the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia, Bishop Mykola Bychok, in recognition of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Melbourne-based Ukrainian bishop Mykola Bychok will become the first Australian-based cardinal since the death of George Pell. He was among 21 new cardinals announced by Pope Francis on Sunday in Rome.

ROME — Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, significantly increasing the size of the College of Cardinals and further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor.

For the first time in history, a majority of the cardinals at the next conclave will be from outside of Europe.