Vatican says new cardinals will be created Dec. 7

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will create his 21 new cardinals Dec. 7, not Dec. 8 as he originally announced, according to the official in charge of papal liturgical ceremonies.

Releasing a calendar of the pope's liturgies in November and early December, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, said Pope Francis will create the new cardinals at a consistory in St. Peter's Basilica the afternoon of Dec. 7.

The next morning, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the pope and all members of the College of Cardinals will concelebrate Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican did not explain the change.

Here is the pope's complete liturgical calendar published by the Vatican Oct. 12:

-- Nov. 4 at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis presides at a memorial Mass for cardinals and bishops who died over the past year.

-- Nov. 17, the pope presides at Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the World Day of the Poor.

-- Nov. 24, the pope presides at Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the feast of Christ the King and the local celebration of World Youth Day.

-- Dec. 7, Pope Francis presides over the consistory to create new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica.

-- Dec. 8, the pope presides over a morning Mass with the new cardinals and all members of the College of Cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica. That afternoon, Pope Francis goes to the center of Rome for his traditional prayer and act of veneration at a statue of the Immaculate Conception near the Spanish Steps.

-- Dec. 12, the pope presides at an evening Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica.