New Spanish cardinal appointed

POPE FRANCIS has named a Spanish Archbishop among 15 new cardinals who will now be able to vote in the next Papal elections.

Archbishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Vallodolid was the only Spanish cleric to be appointed, among other new cardinals from countries including Tonga, Ethiopia and Vietnam. The Pope told a crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square that the new cardinals come “from every continent” and “show the indelible tie with the Church of Rome to churches throughout the world”.

The 15 cardinals – from 14 different nations – are all under the age of 80 and are therefore eligible to vote for Pope Francis’ successor when the time comes.