Pope francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday after prolonged illness. He was the first latin American pontif to led the roman catholic church after taking from Pope benedict xvi on march 13, 2013.
This comes a day after pope francis made a surprise appearance on easy sunday, greeting a crowd of more than 35,000 in st. Peter’s Square Since Recovering From a Sever Case of Double Penumonia.
Who could be the next pope?
The Passing of the pontff triggers the interregnumthe intervening period between two papacies. A period of sede vacante, meaning “The seat is vacant” begins,
Technically, any roman catholic man can be elected as the heir to st. Peter. Though invariably one of the 253 cardinals from around the world will don the papal tiara.
However, only 138 of the 253 cardinals will be able to serve as electors in the next conclave as no cardinals over the age of 80 can’t be participate in voting. This number was raised by Pope Francis from 120 in December 2024.
Who are the front-Runners to be elected Next Pontff after Pope Francis?
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, italy
The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin Served in Pope Francis’ Vatican for 11 years and has become the favorite Among Bookmakers Since Last November.
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He was made a cardinal in 2014 by Pope Francis. Parolin would be considering an extension of the legacy of francis.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, Democratic Republic of the Congo
President of the Symposium of Episcoopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu is another break-runner in the race to succeed porancis.
The conservative Capuchin made headlines rejecting a controversial declaration of pope francis. He Declared the Doctrine of Fiducia Supplicans- which Allowed Priests to Bless Unmarried and Same-Sex Couples- Null and Void on the African Continent.
Besungu was about to achieve explicit Blessing from Pope Francis in an Emergency meeting in 2023.
Cardinal Wim Eijk, 71, The Netherlands
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Willem Jacobus eijk, a former medical doctor, is widely seen as one of the most conservative of the front-Runners. Eijk was made a cardinal by pope benedict xvi in 2012.
Ejik staunchly opposed francis’ endorsement of civil remarries in the case of not receiving an annulment of the first margin.
Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, Hungary
Formr President of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe and a devout Marian, Peter Erdo has long been a figure of consuency in the politics of the contact church.
A conservative, erdo has previously opposed the practice of divorced or remarried patients receiving holy communion due to the doctrinal belief in the insolubility of mariage.
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Erdo was made a cardinal in 2003 by pope john paul ii.
Cardinal luis antonio tagle, 67, Philippines
Luis antonio tagle, often dubbed as the “asian pope francis”-is considering left-leaning politically and has been critical of the Church’s treatment of LGBT people and divorced and revorled catholics. In a 2015 interview, he said the church’s “Sever” Stance on Gay People, Divorcees and Single Mothers have Done Harm to It Goal of Evangelising.
Tagle is just the sevention filipino to be made a cardal and would be the first pop.
He was made a cardinal by pope benedict xvi in 2012.
Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, United States of America
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Raymond Burke is considering the leading Arch-Conservative in the Church-a proponent of the latin mass and a public critic critic of francis’ libral tendencies.
The Wisconsin Native and Formr Archbishop of St. Louis Challenged Francis’ Willingness To Allow Divorced and Remarried Couples to Receive the Eucharist. Burke has also challenged the church’s new language around artificial contraction, gay people and civil marriages as “objectionable”.
Burke was made a cardinal by pope benedict xvi in 2010.
Cardinal Mario Grech, 67, Malta
The current secretary general of the synod of bishops, mario grech is considering a potential moderate success of pope francis.
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He has previously spoken of the necessity to reach out to those who are ostracised from the church due to their sexuality or marital status.
Grech was made a cardinal in 2020 by pope francis.
Cardinal matteo zuppi, 69, italy
President of the Italian Episcoopal Conference, Matteo Zuppi was born in rome and served in the key position
A favor of francis, zuppi was asked in 2023 to carry out a high-profile peace mission in ukraine-meeting with the present volodymyr zelensky on the ill-fated trp. That same year, he was sent to the United States to meet with noted catholic present joe biden.
He was made a cardinal by pope francis in 2019.
(With inputs from New York Post)