Because the world pays their closing respects to Pope Francis, women and men in all places, together with a brand new era of devoted, wait in anticipation for the Faculty of Cardinals to convene and choose a brand new pope.
A conclave, organized by the camerlengo, presently Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, begins 15 to twenty days after the pope’s loss of life.
“Something may occur,” Tim Gabrielli, affiliate professor and Gudorf chair in Catholic mental traditions on the College of Dayton in Ohio, advised Fox Information Digital.
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Pope Francis was elected the 266th pope in 2013. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on April 21, 2025, after 12 years because the Bishop of Rome.
“We actually don’t have a lot of an concept,” he mentioned of Pope Francis’ successor. “I feel anyone who says in any other case is perhaps posturing.”
Among the many church leaders floated because the candidates-in-waiting are Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo and American Cardinal Raymond Burke.
“It is useful to keep in mind that the cardinal electors are going to be, conclave means with key, locked away … away from media and influences,” Gabrielli mentioned.
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The Faculty of Cardinals will convene with the intention to vote and choose the subsequent chief of the Catholic Church. ((Picture by Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photographs))
“We have got a gaggle of people that play vital roles within the church all through the world, and so they’re coming collectively, spending time collectively, and this group of cardinals hasn’t spent a whole lot of time collectively,” Gabrielli added.
Pope Francis created over 100 cardinals, together with these from growing international locations.
“Christ is to be discovered on the margins,” Gabrielli mentioned.
Throughout a conclave, cardinals vote by way of a secret poll. A two-thirds majority is required for the election. After every spherical of submissions, ballots are learn aloud after which burned. The ashes are used to inform audiences around the globe and onlookers in St. Peter’s Sq. of the election’s standing.
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The Faculty of Cardinals meet on the Sistine Chapel in Rome to elect the subsequent pope. (Arturo Mari, Vatican Pool)
Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican signifies a brand new spherical of voting is ready to occur. White smoke indicators a brand new chief of the Roman Catholic Church is chosen.
The key course of, which takes so long as wanted, is vastly completely different from U.S. presidential, native and even mayoral elections. Nonetheless, the distinctive election course of doesn’t forestall individuals from drawing comparisons between probably the most “papabile” cardinals and U.S. political events–Republican and Democrat.
“It’s totally tempting to map people into our political classes,” Gabrielli mentioned. “These simply do not work very nicely within the Church. There are completely different emphases and priorities.”
“It is a very, very completely different course of,” he added.
The Faculty of Cardinals elected Pope Francis in 2013 when he was 76 years outdated. On the time, the previous pontiff was not thought of one of many high cardinal contenders.
Some Catholics regarded the previous chief of the Church as “non-traditional” and infrequently criticized his generally progressive strategy to world management.
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Pope Francis was 76 years outdated when he was elected. (AP Picture/Andrew Medichini)
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis’ took affinity to the enlargement of equality within the Catholic Church, which included pathways for divorced Catholics and blessings for same-sex {couples}.
“My learn is that he had sure specific processes and buildings that he was very taken with setting into movement, just like the work on synodality extra not too long ago,” Gabrielli mentioned.
Pope Francis additionally drove dialog round climate change. His emphasis on environmental safety adopted go well with with Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II earlier than him.
“He was type of choosing up that momentum,” Gabrielli mentioned. “There’s actually a thread you see occurring there.”

Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025. (Andrew Medichini/AP)
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Presently, there are 252 dwelling cardinals. Nonetheless, solely high members of the church beneath the age of 80 are eligible to vote. A most of 120 cardinal electors make up the voting faculty.
The restrict was set by Pope John Paul VI in 1975.
“I feel it is attainable that somebody might be seen as near Pope Francis,” Gabrielli mentioned of the subsequent pope. “I feel it is attainable for somebody to be elected who has a special set of priorities than Pope Francis.”
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