Pope Francis installed 21 new cardinals from five continents on Saturday.

Five bishops from Latin America, including from Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Peru and Argentina, two from Africa’s Ivory Coast and Algeria and the archbishop of Tehran are among those being elevated to cardinal.

The 87-year-old pontiff led a ceremony in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, with what appeared to be a bruised chin. However, the Vatican did not comment on what had happened.

This was the tenth consistory to create new cardinals of Pope Francis since he became pope in 2013.

With the latest 21 cardinals, the pope would have created 110 of the 140 cardinals under 80, who are eligible to vote in a conclave.

Addressing the new cardinals, the Pope encouraged the group to “walk in the way of Jesus: together, with humility, wonder and joy.”

The pontiff reminded the prelates receiving the red hat, that just as Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem was not an ascent to worldly glory but to the glory of God, they too must put the Lord at the centre and be builders of communion and unity.

Pope Francis explained that the new Cardinals are called to make every effort to walk in the path of Jesus.

“To walk in the path of Jesus means above all to return to him and to put him back at the centre of everything,” he said, warning them to look out for secondary things and external appearances that can overshadow what truly counts.

He also explained that the word “Cardinal” refers to a hinge inserted into a door to secure, support and reinforce it.

In his homily, Pope Francis explained that “to walk in the path of Jesus means, in the end, to be builders of communion and unity.” He warned against “the worm of competition” and “the dividing wall of hostility” that prevents us from seeing ourselves as children of the same Father.

He urged the new cardinals – whom he noted come from different backgrounds and cultures, and represent the catholicity of the Church – to be “witnesses of fraternity, artisans of communion and builders of unity.”

The Consistory was announced at the beginning of October.

Source: vaticannews.va