Pope tells new cardinals: be humble, help poor, fight injustice

Pope Francis leads his Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican June 28, 2017. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis elevated five senior clerics from outside Italy and the Vatican to the top rank of cardinal on Wednesday, urging them to be humble and not forget refugees and victims of war, terrorism and injustice.

Appointing new cardinals is one of the most significant powers of the papacy, allowing a pontiff to put his stamp on the future of the 1.2 billion-member Church.