ROME — Pope Francis appointed 20 new cardinals, 15 of whom will be eligible to elect the next pope, at a special ceremony in the Vatican on Sunday.
In his address, Francis stressed that the job of cardinal was "not an honorary title" and that it involved working at the centre of the church in a manner that "must be exercised in charity, and is ordered towards charity."
"Those called to the service of governance in the Church need to have a strong sense of justice, so that any form of injustice becomes unacceptable, even those which might bring gain to himself or to the Church," Francis told the new cardinals.
Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij from Thailand was among the senior members of the Catholic Church who were appointed cardinals on St Valentine's Day.
The 15 elector cardinals come from 14 countries. The five other cardinals are above the age of 80 and therefore already ineligible to take part in the conclave that will elect the next pope.
Germany's Karl-Josef Rauber was among the group of over 80-year-olds.
Among those taking part in the ceremony in St Peter's Basilica was retired pope and fellow German Benedict XVI, who was greeted warmly by Francis.
The new group of cardinal electors includes Nguyen Van Nhon, the archbishop of Hanoi, Yangon archbishop Charles Maung Bo, Soane Patita Paini Mafi of Tonga and two Italians.
The ceremony took place after a consistory - a formal meeting of the college of cardinals - in the Vatican on Thursday and Friday.