Following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, speculation has begun over who might be chosen as the next spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. The process of selecting a new pope is steeped in centuries-old tradition, with several prominent cardinals, known as “papabili”—those considered most likely to be elected—emerging as frontrunners.
While, in theory, any baptised Catholic male is eligible to become Pope, since 1378, only cardinals have been selected for the role. The new pope must secure at least two-thirds of the votes from cardinals under the age of 80 in the Papal Conclave.
Here are some of the leading candidates believed to be in the running:
1. Cardinal Marc Ouellet – Canada
A seasoned Vatican official, Cardinal Ouellet led the influential Congregation for Bishops for over a decade and has strong ties with the Latin American Church through his leadership of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
2. Cardinal Reinhard Marx – Germany
The 71-year-old archbishop of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Marx was chosen by Pope Francis as a key advisor in 2013. He later chaired the Vatican’s finance council, helping implement reforms and greater financial oversight.
3. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle – Philippines
Widely respected, Cardinal Tagle is the President of Caritas Internationalis and currently heads the Vatican’s missionary evangelization office. His leadership in modernizing the Vatican bureaucracy has made him a strong contender.
4. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi – Italy
The Archbishop of Bologna and current President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Zuppi is closely aligned with the Sant’Egidio Community, which plays a vital role in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding efforts.
5. Cardinal Pietro Parolin – Italy
As the Vatican Secretary of State since 2014, Cardinal Parolin has been one of Pope Francis’ closest aides. With diplomatic experience, including a posting in Venezuela, he is highly familiar with the Latin American Church and international affairs.
6. Cardinal Peter Erdo – Hungary
The Archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Erdo has been elected twice as the head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, suggesting strong support among European cardinals—currently the largest voting bloc.
7. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn – Austria
A prominent theologian and former student of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Schönborn combines doctrinal knowledge with a progressive stance. He garnered attention after criticizing the Church’s past handling of clergy abuse cases.
8. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost – United States
Born in Chicago, Cardinal Prevost could potentially become the first American-born pope. However, concerns remain over the influence of the U.S. on global politics, which has historically made the election of an American pope controversial. At 69, his age and nationality might work against his candidacy.
As the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics await the conclave’s decision, the coming days will be marked by prayer, reflection, and careful deliberation among the cardinal electors tasked with choosing the next Vicar of Christ on Earth.
