Pope Francis is to appoint 19 new cardinals next month. Among those chosen are men from countries like Haiti, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
A Vatican spokesman said that this was in keeping with the Pope's drive to put the world's poor at the core of the Church's mission.
Cardinals are the most senior clergymen in the Catholic Church below the Pope.
Francis named them during his weekly, Sunday address to worshippers gathered in St Peter's Square.
They come from all corners of the world, including Italy, Germany, Britain, Nicaragua, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, Chile and the Philippines.
The BBC reports the new cardinals will be formally instated at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on 22 February.
