Two Indians among 21 new cardinals named by Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY: Two

Indian churchmen

were among 21 who will be elevated by Pope Francis to the rank of cardinal in a ceremony at the Vatican in August, it was announced on Sunday.

The two Cardinals from India are Archbishop Filipe Neri António Sebastião di Rosário Ferrão - Archbishop of Goa and Damão (India) and

Archbishop Anthony Poola

- Archbishop di Hyderabad (India), the official Vatican News reported.

At the conclusion of the Regina Coeli on Sunday, Pope Francis said that on August 27, he will hold a Consistory for the

creation of new cardinals

, the report said.

He also said that he will meet from August 29 and 30 with all the cardinals to reflect on the new Apostolic Constitution Praedicate evangelium.

Eight of the newly named Cardinals are from Europe, six from Asia, two from Africa, one from North America, and four from Central and Latin America.

The

College of Cardinals

currently consists of 208 Cardinals, of whom 117 are electors and 91 are non-electors. As of 27 August, the number will grow to 229 Cardinals, of whom 131 will be electors.