Pope creates 24 new cardinals amid cheers

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Pope Benedict XVI formally created 24 new cardinals on Saturday amid cheers in St Peter's Basilica, bringing a mostly Italian group into the elite club that will eventually elect his successor.

Speaking in latin, benedict read out each of the names of the new "princes of the church" at the start of the Mass, eliciting roaring applause from the pews and smiles from the cardinals themselves.

Wearing their new scarlet cassocks, to signify their willingness to shed blood for the church, the cardinals processed first into the basilica, waving to well-wishers as organ music thundered in a festive yet solemn atmosphere.

The basilica was awash in red as some 150 cardinals from around the world came to Rome for the occasion of welcoming in their newest members.

The 24 new cardinals include heads of Vatican congregations, archbishops of major cities in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, and retired prelates honoured for their lifelong service to the church.

Their numbers bring the college of cardinals to 203, 121 of whom are under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.

Eight of the new voting-age cardinals are Italian, seriously boosting the Italian bloc and leading to some speculation that the papacy might eventually swing back to an Italian following a polish and German pope.

Benedict, 83, told the men of their new mission as cardinals, saying they must devote themselves totally to the church and to Christ.

In his homily, he asked the faithful to pray for them, saying: "Let the Lord's spirit support these new cardinals in the commitment of service to the church, following Christ of the cross even if necessary to shed their blood, always ready — To respond to whatever is asked."

The senior new cardinal, Angelo Amato, who heads the Vatican's saint-making office, told benedict at the start of the mass of the "stupor" each one of the men feels to have been chosen.