Pope Francis’ demise on April 21, the day after Easter Sunday, began off a sequence of traditions that can quickly culminate in a vote for the subsequent pope. His successor might be determined by the Catholic Church’s cardinal electors, a gaggle of 133 cardinals below the age of 80, who’re set to start their conclave on Might 7 to carry a secretive election for the subsequent pontiff.
“Every papal conclave comes down, in some sense, to a referendum on the papacy that has just ended,” John Allen, a longtime observer of the Vatican and editor of the Catholic information website “Crux,” stated. A number of of the possible frontrunners would symbolize continuity with the course set by Pope Francis, he stated, whereas others would sign “a change in a slightly more traditional, conservative direction.”
Regardless of their leanings, Allen stated, the cardinal electors might be in search of 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.”
During the last 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 have a look at among the cardinals thought of potential contenders to turn 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 recognized for his assist of the pope’s outreach to Orthodox Christians.
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Erdo can be on the conservative aspect of the European cultural divide. On migration, a key situation for Hungary, he has conveyed a balanced method, recognizing the fitting emigrate but additionally the significance of guaranteeing political stability.
Erdo is taken into account a traditionalist however can be revered by liberals, which may make him a unifying drive 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 international consideration for main African bishops in unanimous rejection of “Fiducia Supplicans,” a declaration the Vatican issued in 2023 that included pointers on the blessings of individuals in same-sex relationships.
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At 65 years outdated, he is named 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 could be the primary African chosen to steer 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 just a little 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.
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Grech comes from Malta, which is without doubt one of 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.
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He’s considered a reasonable who, if elected, may 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 struggle and visited Gaza in the course of the battle.
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He’s a proponent of social justice and sees himself as a servant of the individuals. 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 named 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.
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He’s the previous archbishop of Manila, within the Philippines, which is without doubt one of 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 named a “street priest” and missionary and desires a church that listens to the devoted and is prepared to modernize. Zuppi is inclusive of same-sex {couples}, in addition to individuals of various religions.
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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 instructing on sexual ethics and gender, and has a robust concern for the atmosphere.
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Arborelius has been a proponent of immigration into Sweden, calling for dialogue and integration as a substitute of restrictions.
Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec
Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec, Canada, is 67 years outdated. Earlier in his profession he spent years as a missionary and seminary professor in Colombia.
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He quickly stepped again from his duties amid sexual abuse allegations, which he denied, and returned to his duties final yr 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 up to date 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.
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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.
The next yr, he advised BBC Information he didn’t need the Catholic Church’s high job, saying, “I’m not sure whether anyone does aspire to become a pope.”
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of France
At 66, French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille, is on the youthful aspect in comparison with a lot of his fellow prelates. If chosen as the subsequent pope, he could be the primary Frenchman to carry the place since Gregory XI died in 1378.
Aveline, who was born in Algeria below French colonial rule however grew up in Marseille, is taken into account a progressive on points reminiscent of immigration, as was Pope Francis.
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He has spoken out about drug trafficking networks primarily based 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 possibilities as a papal candidate could possibly be harmed by the truth that he doesn’t communicate Italian.
