Plans are already in motion to choose the successor of the late Pope Francis, whose funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
The world woke up on Monday to the news of Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passing away at 7:35 a.m. local time.
The 88-year-old pontiff had recently battled double pneumonia and chronic bronchial infections, leading to his demise after suffering a stroke and heart failure on Monday morning.
Celebrities and heads of state expressed their condolences and memories of the first Latin-American pontiff on social media.
Preparations for the next conclave—the papal election—have already begun behind the scenes.
The papal
account on social media platform X has been renamed to Apostolica Sedes Vacans, meaning “the apostolic seat is empty.”
While Catholics worldwide mourn the late pontiff, speculation has emerged about a potential successor, though past conclaves have resulted in unexpected choices. Few had predicted the election of Francis after Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation.
An old Italian saying hints at the unpredictability of papal elections: “He who enters the conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal.”
Despite this, there are frontrunners in the race to become the leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics globally.
Vatican journalists Edward Pentin and Diane Montagna created a
website a few months ago profiling potential candidates and their stances on church issues.
The chosen successor will face the challenge of guiding the church through turbulent times, marked by ongoing wars and cultural clashes.
Here are brief profiles of some top contenders.
Cardinal Sarah
Cardinal Robert Sarah, known for his conservative views, has been a stalwart defender of Catholic teachings. His background includes heading the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and co-authoring a book on priestly celibacy.
Cardinal Pizzaballa
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa gained attention for offering himself to Hamas following a hostage situation in 2023. As the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, he is seen as leaning conservative and appealing to centrists.
Cardinal Erdo
Cardinal Peter Erdo, the archbishop of Budapest, is considered conservative-leaning. He has emphasized traditional church teachings on marriage while advocating respect for individuals in non-traditional relationships.
Cardinal Parolin
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, played a key role in the China-Vatican agreement, granting the Chinese regime greater influence over the Catholic Church in China.
Cardinal Tagle
Cardinal Luis Tagle, the archbishop of Manila, is a progressive figure known for his informal approach and support for the China-Vatican agreement.
Cardinal Zuppi
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna, is seen as a potential candidate aligned with the liberal wing of the church, likely to continue Francis’s legacy if elected.
