Pope Francis, the 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church, has passed away after being discharged from the hospital where he was receiving treatment for a serious lung infection. His death, more than ten years after becoming pontiff, has sparked renewed discussions on who will succeed him as the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics.
Read more: Pope Francis Passes Away at 88 on Easter Monday, Vatican Confirms
How the Next Pope Will Be Chosen
The responsibility of selecting the next pope lies with the College of Cardinals—a body that includes many members appointed by Pope Francis himself. Although any baptized Catholic man is technically eligible, the pope is traditionally chosen from among the cardinals.
Of the more than 240 cardinals worldwide, only those under the age of 80 at the time of the vacancy are allowed to vote. Despite the standard voting cap of 120 cardinals, there are currently 138 eligible electors. A group of nine randomly selected cardinals oversees the voting process, and a new pope must secure a two-thirds majority to be elected.
Leading Candidates for the Papacy
Some of the most talked-about candidates include Cardinal Peter Erdo, Cardinal Luis Tagle, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Mario Grech, Cardinal Peter Turkson, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.
Historically, papal elections can be swift or drawn-out; while the last few popes were elected within days, past elections like that of Pope Gregory X took years. Of the 138 current voting cardinals, 110 were appointed by Pope Francis, indicating a strong possibility of a more globally representative pope in line with Francis’s inclusive vision. Notably, the youngest voting member is a 45-year-old Ukrainian cardinal stationed in Australia.
This moment marks a critical juncture for the Church, as it looks to continue Pope Francis’s legacy or chart a new path forward.
