DHAKA: The Pope has appointed 20 new cardinals, boosting the number of men from developing countries in the group that will elect his successor.

The new cardinals include the first prelates from Myanmar, Tonga and Ethiopia.

Fifteen are under 80, making them eligible to vote for the next pope.

For the first time, there are more non-European than European cardinals in the electoral body as the Pope seeks to reflect the Church globally.

With the appointments, made during a colourful celebration at the Vatican, the Pope has underlined his determination to change the balance of power in the Church and make it more representative, reports the BBC.

When he announced the appointments in January, the Pope said the naming of cardinals from 14 countries from every continent in the world showed the Vatican’s ‘inseparable link’ with Catholics around the world.

BDST: 1214 HRS, FEB 15, 2015