Pope Francis, 88, the oldest pope in over a century, died Monday morning, although quiet discussions on who might succeed him have reportedly already begun.
Whereas any male Catholic might in concept be chosen to take a seat within the papal seat, traditionally, succeeding popes have been chosen from the Sacred School of Cardinals since 1378, in accordance with Religion News Service.
Presently, there are 252 cardinals within the physique who’ve been selected by the Holy Father to function his advisors and assistants.
Here’s a take a look at a few of the more than likely forerunners to function the 267th pope, in accordance with public reporting.
Pope Francis is seen delivering a homily throughout Mass with newly appointed cardinals. (Stefano Costantino/SOPA Photos/LightRocket through Getty Photos)
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Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy
Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, is the highest-ranking diplomat in the Holy See – which is the governing physique of the Catholic Church – and is believed to be among the many cardinals more than likely to be elected to the highest place.
His favor amongst cardinals within the Sacred School, who will vote on the following pope, is because of his politically average place and his profession in diplomacy, reported The New York Put up.
Parolin, who spent a part of his profession in Mexico and Nicaragua, was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 and would doubtless be seen as an extension of the present papacy.
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The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, attends the blessing ceremony of the newly opened reception and integration middle for Ukrainian refugees through the Bishops’ Convention of Slovakia in Kosice, Slovakia, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Robert Nemeti/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, Philippines
Tagle can be believed to be a frontrunner amongst voting cardinals and serves because the pro-prefect for the part of first evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, in addition to president of the Interdicasterial Fee for Consecrated Spiritual.
He has been dubbed the “Asian Pope Francis” significantly for his or her similarities in terms of their extra embracing place of the LGBTQI group than their predecessors.
In a 2015 interview, Tagle stated the Church’s “extreme” place on the LGBTQI group, divorcees and single moms was doing it hurt.
In keeping with the Catholic Herald, Tagle “could be hailed by liberals, given the altering demographic of the Church.”
Pope Francis greets Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle throughout a ceremonial welcome on the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sept. 4, 2024. (Tiziana FabiI/AFP through Getty Photos)
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Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, Hungary
There are a number of conservative cardinals who’re believed to be high contenders for the papacy, together with Cardinal Peter Erdo, who has been important of Francis’ place on divorce and immigration.
Erdo has argued that divorced or re-married Catholics shouldn’t be allowed to obtain Holy Communion because of his place regarding the “indissolubility of marriage.”
The Catholic Herald identified that appointing a conservative pope following Francis’ tenure would “ship a strong message in regards to the course the Church could be taking.”
Erdo has additionally differed from Francis greatly on immigration and argued in 2015 that allowing refugees to resettle is tantamount to human trafficking.
Pope Francis greets the archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Péter Erdő, after arriving in Budapest, Hungary, on April 28, 2023. (Vatican Media Vatican Pool/Getty Photos)
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, Democratic Republic of Congo
One other conservative cardinal regarded as a severe contender is Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the war-torn nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Membership of the Catholic Church in Africa is rising sooner than wherever else on the earth, in accordance with the Related Press.
Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (AP Photograph/Andrew Medichini)
The 65-year-old Ambongo controversially rejected Pope Francis’ blessing of same-sex {couples} by the Catholic Church. In a letter signed by different African monks, they stated they refused to comply with the pontiff’s declaration as a result of such unions are “opposite to the need of God.”
Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, United States of America
The Wisconsin native and former archbishop of St. Louis is taken into account to be the main American candidate. The 76-year-old cardinal can be considered as being from the conservative aspect of the Church.
Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke attends the Consistory for the creation of recent Cardinals led by Pope Francis on the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican Metropolis, Vatican. (Franco Origlia/Getty Photos)
He’s a proponent of the Latin Mass, and has been important of Pope Francis relating to the Church’s new language round synthetic contraception, LGBT points and civil marriages. Burke was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy
Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi throughout an viewers on the Apostolic Palace on Aug. 24, 2023, in Vatican Metropolis. (Vatican Media through Vatican Pool/Getty Photos)
Zuppi was born in Rome. He’s the president of the Italian Episcopal Convention and is considered as an insider in Francis’ Vatican, having served because the archbishop of Bologna.
The 69-year-old Zuppi is seen as being one in all Pope Francis’ favorites. He was despatched on a peace mission in 2023 to Ukraine, the place he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was additionally despatched to satisfy with President Joe Biden that very same 12 months.
Zuppi was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019.
The Vote
Of the 252 cardinals within the Sacred School, solely 138 are beneath the age of 80 and subsequently are permitted to take part within the conclave, the papal election course of – although there aren’t any age limitations for the candidate who would function the longer term pope.
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Following the demise of a pope, the conclave then holds a vote, and can proceed to vote, till a pope is chosen by a two-thirds majority.
At the moment, the ballots will probably be burned with a chemical that produces white smoke, versus black smoke, to alert the world {that a} new pope has been chosen.
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