Pope Francis appoints 13 new cardinals including Cantalamessa and Fra Mauro Gambetti

Pope Francis said Sunday he will create 13 new cardinals, including Archbishop of Washington Wilton Gregory, in a consistory on November 28, the eve of the first Sunday of Advent.

The pope announced his intention to add to the College of Cardinals from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, after leading the Angelus on October 25.

Gregory, who was named Archbishop of Washington in 2019, will become the United States' first black cardinal.

Other designated cardinals include Maltese Bishop Mario Grech, who became Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops in September, and Italian Bishop Marcello Semeraro, who was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints earlier this month.

The Italian cappuccino Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher of the Papal Household since 1980. At 86, he will not be able to vote in a future conclave.

Others appointed to the College of Cardinals include Archbishop Celestino Aós Braco of Santiago, Chile; Archbishop Antoine Kambanda of Kigali, Rwanda; Archbishop Jose Fuerte Advincula of Capiz, Philippines; and Bishop Cornelius Sim, apostolic vicar of Brunei.

Archbishop Augusto Paolo Lojudice, former Auxiliary Bishop of Rome and current Archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino, Italy, also elevated to the rank of cardinal; and Fra Mauro Gambetti, Guardian of the Sacred Convent of Assisi.

Alongside Cantalamessa, the pope has nominated three others who will receive the red hat but will not be able to vote in conclaves: bishop emeritus Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico; Mons. Silvano Maria Tomasi, Permanent Observer Emeritus at the United Nations Office and the specialized agencies in Geneva; and Msgr. Enrico Feroci, parish priest of Santa Maria del Divino Amore in Castel di Leva, Rome.

Cardinal-designate Gregory hit the headlines in June this year when he heavily criticized US President Donald Trump's visit to the John Paul II Shrine in Washington, DC amid clashes between police and protesters.

"I find it disconcerting and reprehensible that any Catholic structure allows itself to be used so brilliantly improperly and manipulated in a way that violates our religious principles, that it calls us to defend the rights of all people, even those with whom we may disagree, ”he said.

"St. Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings. His legacy is a vivid testimony of this truth. It certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, disperse or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace, ”he added.

It later emerged that Gregory had been aware of Trump's visit to the shrine days before it appeared to be.

Gregory was president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2001 to 2004. He was archbishop of Atlanta from 2005 to 2019