This will be the ninth congress that the pope has called during his papacy.
Pope Francis announced Sunday that he will elevate 21 clerics from around the world to cardinals in a ceremony later this year.
The pope made the announcement during Sunday noon prayer from St. Peter’s Square, saying the ceremony would take place on September 30.
In his ten-year tenure as pope, this will be his ninth council.
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.
“Let us pray for the new Cardinals, to confirm their adherence to Christ, the Most Merciful and Savior High Priest, to help me in my ministry as Bishop of Rome for the good of the entire Holy People faithful to God,” Francis said during the Sunday service, According to Vatican News.
After tensions between Hong Kong and the Catholic Church, the Pope chose Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong as one of the men to become a cardinal.
In the past few years, Hong Kong has criticized the Vatican’s agreement with China on the appointment of Chinese bishops, According to the Associated Press.
Hong Kong’s Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen said the agreement was a betrayal of pro-Vatican Catholics and clergy who faced persecution in China, According to the Associated Press.
The Associated Press reports that Hong Kong authorities arrested and convicted Zain last year for failing to register a fund to help people arrested during protests in Hong Kong.
The Vatican has also appointed Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a senior official in Jerusalem, which has a small Catholic community, to become a cardinal.
The Pope appointed Archbishop Christophe Pierre, of the United States, as Cardinal-elect. It is rare to see a papal representative from the United States become a cardinal.
Last year, Pope Francis elevated Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, California, to the rank of cardinal during his ceremony in August. McElroy was one of 20 Vatican-appointed cardinals who will be elevated in 2022.
McIlroy, considered a progressive in the church, has criticized bishops in the United States for denying Holy Communion to politicians who support abortion rights. He also signed a statement, along with other bishops, to support LGBTQ youth.
After the ceremony, 137 cardinal-electors – all under the age of 80 – will be able to enter a conclave to choose the next pope.
Full list of new Cardinal Electors:
ABC News’ Melissa Adan and Matthew Vann contributed to this report.
