Pope Francis to appoint 21 new cardinals on Dec. 8

FILE - Maltese cardinal Mario Grech (L), Pope Francis (C) and cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes attend the Second Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the Paul VI audience hall, in The Vatican, Oct. 2, 2024.

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