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Pope brings peripheries of church _ and pastors like him _ into College of Cardinals

Associated Press
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Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, archbishop of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, leaves at the end of a morning session of a special consistory with cardinals and bishops, in the Synod hall at the Vatican, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. Pope Francis met with cardinals and bishops who will take part in the upcoming Feb. 14, 2015 consistory during which he will elevate 20 new cardinals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, archbishop of Bangkok, Thailand, second from right, leaves at the end of a morning session of a special consistory with cardinals and bishops, in the Synod hall at the Vatican, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. Pope Francis met with cardinals and bishops who will take part in the upcoming Feb. 14, 2015 consistory during which he will elevate 20 new cardinals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

Pope Francis is followed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI during a special consistory at the Vatican, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. Pope Francis is expanding the ranks of cardinals who will elect his successor to include pastors like him who minister to the poor and come from far-flung, often overlooked dioceses. Francis was formally elevating the 20 new cardinals at a ceremony Saturday in St. Peter's Basilica. Retired Pope Benedict XVI was expected to be on hand in a unique blending of popes past, present and future. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

Pope Francis is expanding the ranks of cardinals who will elect his successor to include pastors like him who minister to the poor and come from far-flung, often overlooked dioceses.

Francis was formally elevating the 20 new cardinals at a ceremony Saturday in St. Peter's Basilica. Retired Pope Benedict XVI was on hand in a unique blending of popes past, present and future.

This is Francis' second consistory creating new cardinals and once again he looked to the "peripheries" of the church to give greater geographic representation to the Europe-centric College of Cardinals.

One of the new cardinals was too old to make the trip and will be receiving his red hat at home: José de Jesús Pimiento Rodriguez of Colombia, who turns 96 next week.