Pope Francis May Appoint As Many As 12 Cardinals

Pope Francis continues to make changes within the Catholic church.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the pope is looking at developing countries when appointing new cardinals. He wants to find people who strengthen his point of view within the Vatican, and he wants to show support to Christians in the Middle East.

He is expected to name cardinals as soon as Sunday, and there is reportedly no American or Italian being considered for this role.

Currently, Italy has the largest number of voting cardinals.

He may choose up to 12 cardinals. In February, he chose 19 cardinals.

Chad Pecknold, a professor at the Catholic University of America, said that choosing cardinals is very significant.

"If the pope is the football coach, the cardinals are the star players: They move the ball forward in the life of the church," he said to the Journal.

Through cardinals, the pope is able to influence how the church operates.

When cardinals turn 80, they are no longer able to vote in a papal election. Therefore, new cardinals will be chosen. By February, 10 cardinals will be 80, and there will be two more that will soon turn 80.

Some believe the Argentine pope is looking to the Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea for cardinals. Rev. Jean Benjamin Sleiman from Baghdad is one who people believe is strongly being considered.

During his first mass of 2015, Pope Francis condemned modern slavery and human trafficking, according to the Guardian.

"All of us are called [by God] to be free, all are called to be sons and daughters, and each, according to his or her own responsibilities, is called to combat modern forms of enslavement," he said. "From every people, culture and religion, let us join our forces."