Francis has appointed almost three-quarters of the Sacred College of Cardinals – who elect the next pontiff – in his image
The Pope’s successor is increasingly likely to be progressive and from Asia or Africa after his appointment of 21 new cardinals.
With the new appointments, Pope Francis will have named almost three-quarters of the cardinals eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a future pope.
This will increase the chances that the cardinals will elect someone who is likely to continue his liberalising policies towards a more inclusive and progressive church, such as encouraging the debate over the church’s traditional thinking on homosexuality or contraception.
The new cardinals come from countries including the United States, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Portugal.