VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will appoint 21 new cardinals from around the world, he announced on Sunday (Oct 6), in an unexpected push to influence the powerful group of churchmen that will one day choose his successor.

The ceremony to install the new appointees, known as a consistory, will be held on Dec 8, the 87-year-old pope said during his weekly noon-time prayer with pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square.

It will be the 10th consistory called by the pope since his election 11 years ago as the first pontiff from Latin America.

The new cardinals come from a wide array of countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Italy, UK, Serbia, Japan, Indonesia, Canada, Ivory Coast and Algeria.

The list contains 20 who are under the age of 80 and therefore able to vote in the conclave to elect a new pope after Francis's death or resignation.

Only one of the group is above the age threshold — a 99-year-old Italian archbishop, named in gratitude for his service to the Church. By contrast, Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, is only 44, making him the youngest cardinal.

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