Vatican confirms Mali to get its first Cardinal

The creation of Mali's first cardinal is to go ahead as planned, the Vatican said today, quashing rumours that Jean Zerbo's appointment was at risk following reports of questionable financial conduct.

Vatican experts said Zerbo, 74, was recovering from an illness but had managed to make the trip to the Vatican to be appointed cardinal along with four others by Pope Francis on Wednesday. Francis may have called off the appointment fearing a scandal.