Pope Francis death: Who could be the next Pope? Check out the list of possible contenders

The death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, (Monday) has triggered a centuries-old ritual: A papal conclave — where cardinals from around the world gather in the Vatican to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church.

This secretive process unfolds within the frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel. Bound by sacred oaths, the cardinals are forbidden from communicating any details of the vote to the outside world.

Long before Pope Francis’s passing, speculation over his successor had intensified due to his age and recurring health problems, including a recent severe lung infection. As tradition holds, in the months and years preceding a pope’s death, certain prominent figures, known aspapabile, emerge as potential candidates to ascend to the papacy.

The upcoming conclave will be held according to the Church’s rules as of January 22, 2025. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, 138 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote. The conclave will proceed with four ballots per day until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority, a process that usually takes between 15 and 20 days, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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A native of Veneto and the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013, Cardinal Parolin is the highest-ranking cardinal eligible to vote. Often viewed as a centrist, he avoids strong political labels and is considered a pragmatic moderate.

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A devout Marian and former president of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, the 72-year-old Hungarian cardinal represents the conservative faction within the Church. He has firmly opposed allowing divorced or remarried Catholics to receive communion, citing the Church’s doctrine on the insolubility of marriage. He has also compared refugee resettlement to human trafficking. He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

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At 67, the Filipino cardinal could become the first Asian pope. He currently serves as the pro-prefect for the Section of First Evangelisation of the Dicastery for Evangelisation and was appointed a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. Considered the most progressive of the frontrunners, Tagle has spoken out against the Church’s treatment of marginalized groups.

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The 69-year-old president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy is seen as a protégé of Pope Francis. Elevated to cardinal in 2019, Zuppi has since represented the Vatican on peace missions, including to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In an essay in James Martin’s 2018 book Building a Bridge, Zuppi supported a more inclusive stance toward the LGBT+ community, writing that such a pastoral approach would be “useful for encouraging dialogue, as well as reciprocal knowledge and understanding."

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The 76-year-old Ghanaian prelate was a serious contender in the 2013 conclave and has gained more support since. He would be the first African pope since the fifth century. Politically left-leaning, Turkson is a leading voice on social justice issues and has criticized neoliberal capitalism. Theologically, however, he is conservative, opposing condom use during the AIDS crisis and resisting greater acceptance of homosexuality.

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At 59, the Portuguese cardinal is one of the youngest potential successors to Pope Francis — a factor that could work against him, as other ambitious cardinals may not want to wait decades for another chance at the papacy. Known for his intellectual background and poetic sensibility, Tolentino has drawn controversy for his sympathy toward more tolerant views on same-sex relationships and for aligning himself with a feminist Benedictine sister who supports women’s ordination and is pro-choice. A close ally of Pope Francis on most issues, he has consistently argued that the Church must engage with modern culture.

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The 68-year-old Maltese prelate was initially seen as a traditionalist but began adopting more progressive positions following Francis’s election in 2013. His supporters say his evolving views demonstrate openness to growth and change. Grech has criticized European political leaders who sought to restrict the operations of NGO ships rescuing migrants and has voiced support for the idea of female deacons.

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At 60, the Italian cardinal has served as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020 — a critical role in representing the Christian minority in the Holy Land. In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Pizzaballa offered himself as a hostage in exchange for children held in Gaza. He visited the Gaza Strip in May 2024 after months of diplomatic efforts.

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