Pope Francis’ loss of life on April 21, the day after Easter Sunday, began off a collection of traditions that can quickly culminate in a vote for the following pope. His successor shall be determined by the Catholic Church’s cardinal electors, a bunch of 133 cardinals underneath the age of 80, who’re set to start their conclave on Might 7 to carry a secretive election for the following pontiff.
Irrespective of their leanings, Allen mentioned, the cardinal electors shall be searching for somebody who can equal Pope Francis’ stature on the world stage. “They want, in part, someone who can have the same capacity to make it absolutely impossible for the wider world to ignore what the Catholic Church has to say.”
Over the past 600 years — since 1378 — cardinals have been chosen for the place, though eligibility technically extends to any male Roman Catholic who has been baptized.
Right here is take a look at a few of the cardinals thought of doable contenders to change into pope:
Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest, Hungary
Cardinal Peter Erdo, a 72-year-old canon lawyer, is the best rating Catholic chief in a rustic that’s 80% Christian. He’s identified for his assist of the pope’s outreach to Orthodox Christians.
Pope Francis greets the archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Peter Erdo, on April 28, 2023, as he arrived for a papal go to to Budapest, Hungary.
/ Getty Photographs
Erdo can also be on the conservative facet of the European cultural divide. On migration, a key difficulty for Hungary, he has conveyed a balanced method, recognizing the correct emigrate but additionally the significance of guaranteeing political stability.
Erdo is taken into account a traditionalist however can also be revered by liberals, which might make him a unifying power throughout the church.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, grew world consideration for main African bishops in unanimous rejection of “Fiducia Supplicans,” a declaration the Vatican issued in 2023 that included tips on the blessings of individuals in same-sex relationships.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu following the ceremony for his appointment by Pope Francis on Oct. 5, 2019 within the Vatican
TIZIANA FABI/AFP through Getty Photographs
At 65 years previous, he is called a supporter of orthodoxy and defends priestly celibacy and the church’s ethical teachings. He’s also called a promoter of social justice and a champion of the poor and unvoiced, and is outspoken in his criticism of the Congolese authorities.
If elected he can be the primary African chosen to guide the Catholic Church in additional than 1,500 years. The final African pontiff was Pope Gelasius, who died in 496 after main the church for a bit over three years.
Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary common for the Synod of Bishops
Cardinal Mario Grech, 68, is a canon lawyer who has main affect on how synods within the church are run. Supporters have praised him for main the cost in implementing a extra consultative and inclusive method to church governance.
Cardinal Mario Grech, common secretary of the Synod of Bishops, attends a Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 29, 2023.
TIZIANA FABI/AFP through Getty Photographs
Grech comes from Malta, which is among the smallest nations on the earth.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is second-in-command on the Vatican and a profession diplomat who has persistently risen above any turbulence marking the hold forth.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin presides at Mass marking 20 years because the loss of life of Pope St. John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 2, 2025,
Simone Risoluti / Getty Photographs
He’s thought to be a average who, if elected, might restore rifts contained in the church. He’s additionally thought of a progressive with a worldwide imaginative and prescient.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, is a pastoral candidate who has spoken out amid the Israel-Hamas battle and visited Gaza in the course of the battle.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, proper, delivers a speech as Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin appears on on the dedication of the Church of the Baptism of the Lord at Al-Maghtas in Jordan on Jan. 10, 2025.
KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP through Getty Photographs
He’s a proponent of social justice and sees himself as a servant of the folks. He’s much like Francis in his concern for migrants, interfaith dialogue and his disdain for clericalism.
Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines
Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, and pro-prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is called the “Asian Francis” for his missionary spirit in addition to his emphasis on caring for the poor and welcoming of LGBTQ and divorced and remarried Catholics.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle attends the solemn liturgy of the Lord’s Ardour on Good Friday in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 18, 2025 in Vatican Metropolis.
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He’s the previous archbishop of Manila, within the Philippines, which is among the most Catholic nations on the continent of Asia, and studied within the U.S. for seven years. His election would sign a continuation of Francis’ hold forth.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, Italy
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, is the president of the Italian bishops convention. He is called a “street priest” and missionary and desires a church that listens to the devoted and is keen to modernize. Zuppi is inclusive of same-sex {couples}, in addition to folks of various religions.
Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi attends Opening Mass for the Synod of Bishops, presided by Pope Francis, at St. Peter’s Sq. on Oct. 2, 2024.
/ Getty Photographs
Francis selected Zuppi as his envoy to Russia and Ukraine, in addition to to the West Financial institution and Beijing, to advertise peace.
Cardinal Anders Arborelius, archbishop of Stockholm
Cardinal Anders Arborelius, 75, was raised Lutheran and transformed to Catholicism on the age of 20. He’s the primary ever cardinal from Scandinavia.
He’s additionally a traditionalist on the church’s educating on sexual ethics and gender, and has a powerful concern for the atmosphere.
Cardinal Anders Arborelius leaves the altar after receiving the biretta from Pope Francis throughout a ceremony elevating 5 new cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica, June 28, 2017.
/ Getty Photographs
Arborelius has been a proponent of immigration into Sweden, calling for dialogue and integration as an alternative of restrictions.
Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec
Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec, Canada, is 67 years previous. Earlier in his profession he spent years as a missionary and seminary professor in Colombia.
Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix at a ceremony for the creation of latest cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica on Feb. 22, 2014.
Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Photographs
He briefly stepped again from his duties amid sexual abuse allegations, which he denied, and returned to his duties final 12 months after a church-led investigation discovered no proof of misconduct.
Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana
Conservative-leaning Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana would, like Ambongo, be the Catholic Church’s first modern African pope if chosen.
However the Ghanaian, who was the primary man from his nation to be made a cardinal, is taken into account a much less hard-line conservative than his Congolese counterpart.
Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana pays his respects to the physique of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica, on the Vatican, April 23, 2025.
Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu through Getty Photographs
The 76-year-old has opposed the criminalization of gay relationships in Africa, together with in his residence nation.
In 2012, he was criticized for fear-mongering about Islam in Europe throughout a Vatican convention, and he later apologized.
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of France
At 66, French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille, is on the youthful facet in comparison with a lot of his fellow prelates. If chosen as the following pope, he can be the primary Frenchman to carry the place since Gregory XI died in 1378.
Aveline, who was born in Algeria underneath French colonial rule however grew up in Marseille, is taken into account a progressive on points equivalent to immigration, as was Pope Francis.
French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline arrives for a mass on the ninth day of mourning for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter’s Basilica, on the Vatican, Might 4, 2025.
Maria Grazia Picciarella/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket/Getty
He has spoken out about drug trafficking networks based mostly in Marseille, and helped to determine an establishment that encourages interfaith dialogue between Catholics, Muslims and Jews.
Aveline was thought of a favourite of Pope Francis, however some consider his probabilities as a papal candidate may very well be harmed by the truth that he doesn’t converse Italian.
Pope Francis & 2025 Papal Conclave
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