Pope Francis names 17 cardinals, 13 of whom are electors

Pope Francis on Sunday named 17 new cardinals, 13 of them under age 80 and thus making them eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor.

Among the new cardinals are three Americans, including leading US moderate Chicago Archbishop Blaise Cupich and Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin.

Others includes cardinals from Africa, Oceania, Asia and South America who got far more representation than their European counterpart, which has long dominated the College of Cardinals.

Pope Francis' ambassador to "the beloved and martyred Syria'' was the only notable Italian elector named.

Cardinals and Bishops at a jubilee mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

New to the group are bishops from Bangui, Central African Republic; Port Louis, Mauritius and Tlalnepantla, Mexico.

Pope Francis said the 17 new cardinals would be promoted at a consistory on November 19, on the eve of the close to his Holy Year of Mercy.

The third American among the cardinal-elect is Kevin Farrell, the outgoing bishop of Dallas.