The Catholic Church has entered a solemn period of sede vacante, Latin for “the seat being vacant,” following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88. He served as the 266th pontiff from 2013 until his passing and was widely regarded for his progressive reforms and global influence.
Now, the process of choosing his successor begins.
The College of Cardinals will soon enter a secretive conclave inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to elect the next pope. This ancient process follows long-standing Catholic traditions, and while rituals remain the same, the outcome is far from predictable.
With no obvious frontrunner, global attention has shifted to a list of leading contenders—referred to as papabili—a term used to describe cardinals considered most likely to be elected pope.
Reports from The Telegraph and CNBC point to a diverse group of high-ranking Church leaders, each representing different regions and theological perspectives. Some are seen as aligned with Pope Francis’ progressive stance, while others reflect a more conservative view.
Here are ten cardinals currently gaining attention in Western media as potential successors:
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines): A prominent voice in the Roman Curia and President of the Catholic Biblical Federation.
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy): Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, a central figure in Vatican diplomacy.
- Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary): Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and long-serving Primate of Hungary.
- Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (USA): A leading conservative and former head of the Church’s highest court.
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy): Archbishop of Bologna known for his pastoral approach and social justice advocacy.
- Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk (Netherlands): A former doctor and moral theologian with strong doctrinal positions.
- Cardinal Mario Grech (Malta): Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, central to ongoing Church reforms.
- Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana): Respected globally for his work on peace and development; one of Africa’s top voices in the Church.
- Cardinal Angelo Scola (Italy): Renowned theologian and former Archbishop of Milan.
- Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Jerusalem): Current Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and expert in Middle Eastern affairs.
As 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide mourn the loss of Pope Francis, they now look toward the future, awaiting the decision that will shape the next era of spiritual leadership for the global Church.
