The new cardinals will get their red hats at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on Dec. 8, an important feast day on its own that officially kicks off the Christmas season in Rome.

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.

Pope Francis will create 21 new cardinals on December 8, 20 of whom can vote for a new pope. Among them are Frank Leo, archbishop of Toronto, and Timothy Radcliffe, former master of the Dominicans.

Pope Francis announces a consistory for the creation of 21 new Cardinals from around the world to be held in the Vatican on 8 December 2024. Vatican | DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOV -VATICAN NEWS | Pope Francis announced after his Sunday Angelus that he would hold a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals on 8

The last consistory to create new cardinals took place on Sept. 30, 2023. The new cardinals included Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong; and Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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.

Along with his new position, Archbishop Francis Leo, 53, says he'll also continue his primary role in Toronto, which he's held since March of 2023.

Pope Francis on Sunday said he plans to promote 21 clerics to the rank of cardinal in December. The pontiff made the announcement in a speech addressing worshippers in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican.