Pope's choice of new cardinals puts emphasis on poor

Pope Francis (R) greets members of the Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration, which promotes exchange between Orthodox Churches and Oriental Orthodox Churches, during the 50th anniversary of the committee at the Vatican, January 11, 2014. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis put his first stamp on the group at the top of the Roman Catholic hierarchy on Sunday, naming 19 new cardinals from around the world and emphasising his concern for poor countries.

Sixteen of them are "cardinal electors" under 80 and thus eligible to enter a conclave to elect a pope. They come from Italy, Germany, Britain, Nicaragua, Canada, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, Chile, Burkina Faso, the Philippines and Haiti.