New cardinals to be named in February 2014 VATICAN CITY, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Pope Francis has set a date in February to create new cardinals at the Vatican, Catholic Church officials said. Francis informed both the Council of Cardinals and the Council of the Synod this month of his plan to name new cardinals Feb. 22, Vatican Radio reported Thursday. The date was made public so other meetings involving cardinals from around the world could be planned, said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the head of the Vatican Press Office. Lombardi did not say who the new cardinals would be.