Who might succeed Pope Francis?

Pope Francis, the oldest pope in over a century, passed away on Monday morning, sparking quiet discussions on who could succeed him. While any male Catholic could potentially be chosen to become the next pope, historically, popes have been selected from the Sacred College of Cardinals since 1378.

Currently, there are 252 cardinals in the Sacred College who have been appointed by the Holy Father to serve as his advisors and assistants. As discussions on potential successors begin to surface, here is a look at some of the most likely candidates to serve as the 267th pope.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, from Italy, is the Vatican’s secretary of state and the highest-ranking diplomat in the Holy See. He is known for his politically moderate stance and extensive career in diplomacy, having served in countries like Mexico and Nicaragua. Parolin was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 and is seen as a potential extension of the current papacy.

Another frontrunner is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, from the Philippines. Known as the “Asian Pope Francis,” Tagle shares similarities with the current pope, particularly in his more embracing position on issues like the LGBTQI community. Tagle has been critical of the Church’s stance on certain issues and would likely be hailed by liberals within the Church.

Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, from Hungary, is a conservative candidate who has been vocal about his disagreements with Pope Francis on issues like divorce, immigration, and the indissolubility of marriage. Erdo’s appointment as pope would signal a shift towards a more conservative direction for the Church.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is another conservative contender. Ambongo has rejected Pope Francis’ blessing of same-sex couples, citing that such unions are contrary to the will of God. His appointment would likely represent the growing influence of the Catholic Church in Africa.

Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, from the United States, is considered the leading American candidate for the papacy. Burke is known for his conservative views on issues like the Latin Mass, artificial contraception, and LGBT rights. His election as pope would align the Church with a more traditionalist stance.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, from Italy, is viewed as one of Pope Francis’ favorites. Zuppi has served as the archbishop of Bologna and is known for his role in peace missions to countries like Ukraine and meetings with world leaders like President Joe Biden. His appointment as pope would likely continue the current pope’s legacy.

With only 138 cardinals under the age of 80 eligible to participate in the conclave, the papal election process, the selection of the next pope will be a carefully considered decision. The conclave will continue to vote until a two-thirds majority is reached, at which point white smoke will signal the selection of the 267th pope.