The College of Cardinals is expected to set a date Monday for the conclave that will elect the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, following the death of Pope Francis last week.
Of the 252 cardinals, only 135 are under 80 years old and thus eligible to vote in the secretive election process. The gathering comes after a week of mourning for Pope Francis, who was laid to rest Saturday in a historic funeral attended by hundreds of thousands.
Unpredictable Election
Spanish Cardinal José Cobo described the upcoming conclave as unpredictable, noting that many voting cardinals come from outside Europe and have never met before.
“If Francis has been the pope of surprises, this conclave will be too, as it is not at all predictable,” Cobo told El País.
Potential Candidates
While no clear frontrunner has emerged, speculation has centered on several key figures:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy) – Former Vatican Secretary of State
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines) – Former Archbishop of Manila
- Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) – Prominent African contender
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy) – Archbishop of Bologna
Global Church at a Crossroads
The next pope will inherit a deeply divided Church, with tensions between reformers and conservatives, particularly in Africa and the U.S.
“We need a courageous leader, a bold one, capable of speaking forcefully, of holding the helm of the Church steady even in storms,” said Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga of the Central African Republic.
Conclave Timeline
The cardinals are likely to set the conclave for early May, possibly May 5 or 6, after the official nine-day mourning period ends on May 4.
The election will take place in the Sistine Chapel, with four rounds of voting per day until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. Given the diversity of the electorate—with fewer than half of voting cardinals from Europe—the process could extend for several days.
Public Sentiment
As pilgrims continue to visit Pope Francis’ tomb in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, many express hope for a unifying successor.
“As a Filipino, I hope the next pope will be from Asia,” said Ricardo Cruz, a visitor to the tomb. “But as a Catholic, I just pray they choose the right pope.”
