Pope to elevate 23 new cardinals

It is the second time Pope Benedict XVI has named new cardinals

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 23 new cardinals, 18 of whom will fill vacancies in the ranks of churchmen who will one day elect his successor.

Five of the new cardinals will not be eligible to enter the elite conclave which votes in the next Pope because they are over 80 years of age.

The new nominations bring the total number of so-called electors to 121.

The pontiff made the announcement during his weekly audience in St Peter's Square, Rome.

He said he would elevate the prelates at a Vatican ceremony on 24 November.

The cardinal electors come from Italy, Argentina, the United States, Germany, Poland, Spain, Ireland, France, Senegal, India, Mexico, Brazil and Kenya.

It was the second time since his election in April 2005 that the Pope named new cardinals. The first was in March last year when he installed 15.