DHAKA: Pope Francis has named 20 new cardinals, including churchmen from Tonga, Ethiopia and Myanmar.

Fifteen of the new appointees are under 80, making them eligible to enter a conclave to elect the Pope’s successor.

Pope Francis said the appointment of cardinals from 14 countries from every continent in the world showed the Vatican’s ‘inseparable link’ with Catholic Churches around the world.

They will be formally installed on 14 February, reports the BBC.

Pope Francis also announced on Sunday that he would lead of meeting of all cardinals to discuss reform of the Roman Curia, the Vatican's administrative body, on 12 and 13 February.

BDST: 2206 HRS, JAN 04, 2015