Wilton Gregory: Pope Francis names first African-American cardinal

Pope Francis has said he will appoint 13 new Roman Catholic cardinals, among them the first African-American clergyman.

The Pope announced the 13 cardinals from eight nations in a surprise address from his window overlooking St Peter's Square in Rome on Sunday.

Wilton Daniel Gregory, the progressive 72-year-old Archbishop of Washington DC, will be one of them.

The cardinals will be installed in a ceremony at the Vatican on 28 November.

Their role includes electing the pope - the head of the Church - who is chosen from among them at a secret gathering known as a conclave.

Vatican experts say the appointment of new cardinals will cement Pope Francis's influence on the clergymen who will one day elect his successor.

Assuming the new cardinals are appointed, Pope Francis will have selected almost 60% of prelates during his tenure, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

In the US, Archbishop Gregory has been a prominent voice in the effort to root out abuse within the Church.

The archbishop rebuked President Trump's visit to a shrine to St John Paul II in Washington, calling it "baffling and reprehensible".

A cardinal post will also go to Maltese Mario Grech, the head of the Synod of Bishops, an influential advisory body for the pope.

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