Predict who will be chosen as the next leader of the 1,200 million Catholics in the world can be very complicated to predict.
In theory, any baptized Catholic man could become potato.
However, it is most likely to be extracted from existing cardinals, which make up the governing body of the Church.
There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, 138 or who are eligible to vote for the new Pope, reports BBC News.
They will meet in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican for the secret papal elections known as the conclave, reports Telegraph.
At the time of writing, it is said that there are no outstanding candidates, but some names have an outstanding bone as possible options.
The Telegraph adds: “The contest is likely to be reduced to a battle commitment to the progressives who applaud the relatively liberal position of the deceased potatoes about the divorced, the gays and the difficult situation of the refugees and the conservatives who hated their own.”
Who are the candidates for the new Pope?
Peter Erdo
Peter Erdo is a Hungarian Cardinal and the Archbishop of Esztergom Budapest, and a strong option is seen for the conservative side of the cardinals.
Edward Pentin, an expert in the Vatican and author of the next Pope: the main cardinal candidates said: “Erdo is a main contender of the conservative wing of the Church. People like him are a strong canonist: he is competent.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 in his residence at the Santa Marta del Vatican house. pic.twitter.com/juikbplvi2
– Vatican News (@vaticannews) April 21, 2025
“Many Catholics feel that the Church must be returned from a sense of ecclesiastical illegality that evolved under Francis. Erdo would be a couple of safe hands.”
Luis Antonio Tagle
Luis Antonio Tagle is seen as a potential candidate on the liberal side.
Nicknamed “The Asian Francis” for his good humor and his progressive views, comes from the Philippines and if chosen would be the first Asian Pope.
Mr. Pentin adds: “Five or six years ago, he was Pope Francis’s favorite to happen. He is the head of the important new super dicastery for evangelization. He is a quite strong contender. And he is still relatively young.”
However, his age could end up counting against him, since the cardinals are great voting in a relatively young man in position.
This is because it could frustrate your own ambitions and squeeze your chances of being chosen one day.
Pope Francis appeared publicly approximately 24 hours ago, when he wanted worms in the Plaza de San Pedro del Vaticano a “happy Easter”.
The 88 -year -old Pope greeted the crowds of his wheelchair on the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro. pic.twitter.com/g2Syloh8r2
– The Telegraph (@telegraph) April 21, 2025
Pietro Parolin
Pietro Parolin is the current Secretary of State of the Vatican, who is indeed his prime minister.
The Telegraph adds: “Its Rose Duration profile The Ukraine War as Vatican was introduced to ITELF as an honest corridor that could mediate with Moscow to close the conflict.”
Thomas Reese, an American Catholic priest and author of Inside The Vatican, said: “He is a very competent diplomat.
“It has been the brain Beind Pope Francis” International Diplomacy. It does not put the foot wrong. ”
However, their chans could be reduced due to a property scandal in which the Vatican lost millions of euros through the purchase of an old Harrods exhibition hall in London.
Other potential candidates for the new Pope
José Tolentino Calaca de Mendonca could be another option for the liberal side of the Catholic Church.
It comes from the Portuguese island of Madeira and was appointed by Pope Francis as head of a Department of Culture and Education.
Matteo Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna, is another Italian in the mixture, a progressive that is considered to be close Francis
Mario Grech of Malta, the general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, has a decent possibility to obtain the main work.
From outside Europe, one of the most mentioned names is Cardinal Peter Turkson, from Ghana.
He was a key advisor to Pope Francis on issues such as climate change and social justice.
Another African who is being mentioned is Cardinal Robert Sarah, from Guinea.
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In the past, he has criticized gender ideology and denounced Islamic radicalism.
When will the next Pope be chosen?
According to The Guardian, the cardinals will meet in Rome 15-20 days after the death of the Pope to begin the voting process.
Then, the votes take place in the morning and afternoon every day until a candidate wins a two -thirds majority.
Who was the young Pope in the history of the Catholic Church?
You will have to go very far in history for this question, since it was Pope Benedict IX who was the youngest Pope.
He is a position for three periods between October 1032 and July 1048, and was only 20 years old when he was first chosen.
Who was the longest service pope?
Pope Pius IX served as Pope between 1846 and 1878 for 31 years, 7 months and 23 days.
