Archbishop Battaglia, 61, has been seen as a rising star in the Italian Church. Francis is occasionally known to cite prayers written by the archbishop.

The archbishop's appointment as a cardinal brings the number of new voting-age cardinals who will be created next month to 21. That follows the announcement of the Indonesian Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur that he was declining the pope's offer to make him a cardinal.

The Vatican gave no clear reason for the bishop refusing the pope's appointment, saying only that it was "motivated by his desire to continue growing in priestly life and in service to the Church and the people of God."

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Cardinal Electors under 80

1 - Archbishop Robert Prevost, American, Vatican official, head of the Dicastery for Bishops
2 - Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Italian, Vatican official, head of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
3 - Archbishop Víctor Fernández, Argentine, Vatican official, head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
4 - Archbishop Emil Tscherrig, Swiss, Vatican ambassador to Italy
5 - Archbishop Christophe Pierre, French, Vatican ambassador to the United States
6 - Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Italian, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
7 - Archbishop Stephen Brislin, South African, Archbishop of Cape Town
8 - Archbishop Ángel Rossi, Argentine, Archbishop of Córdoba
9 - Archbishop Luis Aparicio, Colombian, Archbishop of Bogotá
10 - Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś, Polish, Archbishop of Lodz
11 - Archbishop Stephen Mulla, Sudanese, Archbishop of Juba, South Sudan
12 - Archbishop José Cano, Spanish, Archbishop of Madrid
13 - Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, Tanzanian, Archbishop of Tabora
14 - Bishop Sebastian Francis, Malaysian, Bishop of Penang
15 - Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, Bishop of Hong Kong
16 - Archbishop François-Xavier Bustillo, Spanish-French, Bishop of Ajaccio, Corsica.
17 - Bishop Américo Alves Aguiar, Portuguese, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon
18 - Father Ángel Fernández Artime, Spanish, head of the Salesian order

Source: Vatican News

"A cardinal loves the Church, always with that same spiritual fire, whether dealing with great questions or handling everyday problems, with the powerful of this world or those ordinary people who are great in God's eyes," Francis said.

Sitting before the main altar of St Peter's Basilica, Francis asked them to remember "poor families, migrant and homeless persons."

Francis read his homily in a strong voice, often going off script. He even joked about a Rome priest who was so close to his parishioners that he knew not only all their names, but also their dogs' names.

The pontiff exhorted that those who are often referred to as princes of the church must instead exercise an "unassuming power" and preach the Gospel with an openness to all people "without exception."

Among their responsibilities, said Francis, is the work of "cooking the food of poor families, migrant and homeless persons" and possessing a "universal vision ever attentive to particulars".

"This, brothers and sisters, is the fire that Jesus came to 'bring to the earth,' a fire that the Holy Spirit kindles in the hearts, hands and feet of all those who follow him," the pope said.

The new cardinals appointed by the pope come from Britain, South Korea, Spain, France, Nigeria, Brazil, India, the United States, East Timor, Italy, Ghana, Singapore, Paraguay and Colombia.

Unfortunately, Richard Kuuia Baawobr of Wa (Ghana), was not present. Francis asked for prayers for the African prelate, explaining Baawobr had been taken ill. The Holy Father said Cardinal Baawobr had been hospitalised and therefore unable to attend the ceremony.

With the appointments, the pontiff has also influenced the choice of his eventual successor.

Those under 80 - 16 among the 20 newcomers - can enter a conclave to elect a new pope from among themselves after he dies or resigns.

Sources

Reuters

National Catholic Reporter

Catholic News Agency