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The passing of Pope Francis was a great loss for Catholics all over the world, and for many of his other followers who admired his vision of hope. Now after the formal nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiales ended on May 4, the Catholic Church plans to begin the conclave on May 7.
This secretive process, held in the Sistine Chapel, brings together the College of Cardinals to elect a new pope. Four voting rounds occur daily until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. While the duration varies, attention now turns to the key question: who are the possible contenders this time? Click on to find out.
Erdő, 72, the archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary, was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011. His repeated selection suggests strong support from European cardinals, the largest voting bloc in papal elections.
In his leadership role, Erdő frequently engaged with African bishops' conferences through regular council sessions. These interactions allowed him to build relationships with many African cardinals, expanding his influence beyond Europe.
Marx, 71, the former president of the German bishops' conference, was a leading supporter of the "synodal path," a dialogue process launched in 2020 to confront the German church's abuse crisis. The initiative sparked intense debate by addressing topics such as celibacy, homosexuality, and the role of women in the Church.
His involvement drew criticism from conservatives who viewed the process as a threat to Church unity. In 2021, Marx made headlines by offering to resign as archbishop to take responsibility for the abuse scandal, but Pope Francis rejected the resignation and urged him to continue his leadership.
Ouellet, 80, of Canada, led the Vatican's powerful bishops' office for over a decade, overseeing the global vetting of candidates to lead dioceses. He remained in the role until 2023 under Pope Francis.
Though considered more conservative than Francis, Ouellet aligned with the pope's vision by appointing pastorally focused bishops. This reflected Francis' belief that Church leaders should "smell like the sheep," a call for bishops to live closely with their people, understand their struggles, and serve with humility and compassion.
Parolin, 70, of Italy, has been Francis' secretary of state since 2014 and is considered a top papal contender due to his senior position and long experience in Vatican diplomacy. He oversaw the Holy See's deal with China on bishop appointments and was linked, but not charged, in a failed London real estate investment that led to a 2021 trial.
A former ambassador to Venezuela, Parolin is well acquainted with the Latin American Church and is seen as someone who would continue Francis’ approach. He is viewed as a cautious, diplomatic insider who could return the papacy to an Italian after three consecutive non-Italians.
The idea of an American pope has long been seen as unlikely, given the global influence of the US. However, Chicago-born Robert Prevost, 69, is considered a potential exception.
Prevost has deep roots in Peru, serving as a missionary and later as archbishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023. Now, he heads the Vatican's bishops' office, overseeing global episcopal appointments, an indication of Pope Francis' longstanding trust in him.
Sarah, 79, of Guinea, is the retired head of the Vatican's liturgy office and was once seen as the leading candidate for an African pope. Admired by conservatives, he represents a vision aligned with the doctrinal and liturgical priorities of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Previously head of the Vatican's charity office, Cor Unum, Sarah clashed with Pope Francis on several occasions. The most notable was a book he co-authored with Benedict defending priestly celibacy, released while Francis was considering allowing married priests in the Amazon to address a clergy shortage.
Schönborn, 80, the archbishop of Vienna, was a student of Pope Benedict and is known for his theological depth, which has long appealed to conservatives within the Church. Despite this, he has supported some of Pope Francis' more debated positions.
He defended Francis' outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as a natural evolution of doctrine, not a break from tradition. With divorced parents himself, the issue holds personal weight. He also drew Vatican criticism for publicly condemning its past inaction against high-ranking sexual abusers, including his own predecessor.
Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, is seen as Pope Francis' choice for the first Asian pope. Appointed head of the Vatican's missionary evangelization office, he focuses on the needs of Asia and Africa.
Tagle's role grew in significance following Francis' reforms to the Vatican bureaucracy. He is known for his strong emphasis on caring for the poor and welcoming LGBTQ individuals, as well as divorced and remarried Catholics. Tagle also often reflects emotionally on his Chinese heritage and childhood.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, 65, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, gained global attention for leading African bishops in unanimously rejecting Fiducia Supplicans, a 2023 Vatican declaration on blessing same-sex couples. He is widely seen as a defender of orthodoxy, supporting priestly celibacy and upholding the Church's moral teachings.
At the same time, the Congolese Cardinal is recognized for his strong commitment to social justice. He is a vocal advocate for the poor and marginalized and has been outspoken in his criticism of the Congolese government, earning respect for his courage and moral clarity.
Grech, 68, is a canon lawyer with significant influence over how synods are conducted in the Catholic Church. He is widely praised for promoting a more consultative and inclusive model of governance.
Grech hails from Malta, one of the world's smallest nations, yet he plays an outsized role in shaping the Church's future direction. His leadership reflects Pope Francis' vision of a more participatory Church.
Pizzaballa, 60, is the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem and is considered a strong pastoral candidate. He drew global attention for speaking out during the Israel-Hamas war and visiting Gaza amid the conflict.
A committed advocate of social justice, Pizzaballa sees his role as one of service to the people. He aligns closely with Pope Francis on key issues, including care for migrants, promoting interfaith dialogue, and rejecting clericalism within the Church.
Zuppi, 69, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Bishops' Conference of Italy, is known as a "street priest" and missionary. He advocates for a Church that listens, embraces modernization, and welcomes all.
Zuppi is inclusive of same-sex couples and respectful of other faiths. Pope Francis appointed him as his peace envoy to Russia, Ukraine, the West Bank, and Beijing, reflecting deep trust in his diplomatic and pastoral abilities.
Cardinal Anders Arborelius, the 75-year-old archbishop of Stockholm, made history as the first cardinal from Scandinavia. Raised in the Lutheran faith, he converted to Catholicism at the age of 20.
Known for his traditional views on sexual ethics and gender, Arborelius is also a strong advocate for environmental protection. He supports immigration into Sweden, urging dialogue and integration over restrictive policies.
Lacroix, 67, is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec, Canada. Earlier in his career, he served as a missionary and seminary professor in Colombia for several years.
He temporarily stepped aside from his duties following sexual abuse allegations, which he denied. After a church-led investigation found no evidence of misconduct, he resumed his role in 2024.
Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino, 59, is one of the youngest potential successors to Pope Francis, which could count against him, as some cardinals may be reluctant to wait decades for another chance.
He has drawn controversy for his tolerant stance on same-sex relationships and his alliance with a feminist Benedictine sister who supports women’s ordination and is pro-choice. Aligned with Francis on many issues, he emphasizes the need for the Church to engage with modern culture.
Sources: (CBS News) (The Guardian) (Euronews)
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The passing of Pope Francis was a great loss for Catholics all over the world, and for many of his other followers who admired his vision of hope. Now after the formal nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiales ended on May 4, the Catholic Church plans to begin the conclave on May 7.
This secretive process, held in the Sistine Chapel, brings together the College of Cardinals to elect a new pope. Four voting rounds occur daily until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. While the duration varies, attention now turns to the key question: who are the possible contenders this time? Click on to find out.