Who Will Be the Next Pope? Top Contenders Revealed

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Technically, any baptized Catholic man can become pope.

Historically, it hasn’t been the norm for a pope not to have been a cardinal first, with the last exception dating back to the 1300s. And Pope Francis, similar to 259 out of the 265 popes preceding him, was chosen from the College of Cardinals to lead the Roman Catholic Church in 2013.

After Francis passed away at 88 on April 21, just hours after addressing thousands of Easter celebrants from the loggia balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, there will be a nine-day period of mourning called the “Novemdiales.” During this time, the cardinals mentioned earlier will decide when his body can be moved back to St. Peter’s for a three-day lying-in-state, and a funeral mass must take place within four to six days following his demise.

And then, the conclave to select the 267th pope will commence.

Professor David Collins from Georgetown University shared with NBC News that the vacancy of the papal seat isn’t typically a protracted period. He used the example of the gap between Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, which lasted fewer than three weeks.

After Pope Benedict XVI stepped down due to health concerns on February 28, 2013 (at the age of 85), the subsequent papal election commenced on March 12th. On the following day, Francis was chosen as his successor after five rounds of voting in the conclave.

Originally hailing from Argentina, Francis – formerly recognized as Father Jorge among his local followers – held the position of Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013.

Despite many of his views being deeply rooted in traditional times (such as the prohibition of women becoming priests), Pope Francis was generally forward-thinking, which earned him criticism from conservatives but admiration from Catholics and non-Catholics worldwide.

Merely a few days preceding his five-week hospitalization commencing February 14, coincidentally as the movie “Conclave” was garnering accolades during awards season, he ventured into the global political arena to criticize hostile immigrant speech and mass deportation strategies.

In his open letter to American bishops, he expressed that Christian love doesn’t grow by gradually expanding concern towards others and groups. Instead, the genuine order of love we should advocate for is one that fosters brotherhood, welcoming everyone, unreservedly.

Those who admired Francis’ leadership and those who had differing opinions about his church guidance are eagerly anticipating the one who sets off the white smoke in the upcoming days.

Currently, as of April 21st, there are 252 cardinals in total. However, only those cardinals who are under 80 years old, which amounts to 137, are eligible to participate in the election of a new pope. Pope Francis himself elevated 21 church leaders to the rank of cardinal on December 7th, among whom, 20 are now qualified to vote for his successor.

There is no specific age restriction to become a pope. For instance, Benedict XVI was 78 and Francis was 76 when they were both elected as popes. However, some sources claim that Agatho might have been 101 when he assumed the role in 678, although this is debated among scholars. The oldest pope on record, Pope Gregory XII, was elected at the age of 81 in 1406.

Indeed, here we have a group of highly eligible potential popes, often referred to as “papabile,” who stand out for their suitability to assume the position. These individuals are among the most promising candidates, according to experts in this field.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin has been serving as the Vatican’s second-in-command, or Pope Francis’ Secretary of State, since 2014.

As a former ambassador to Venezuela, the 70-year-old Italian held responsibility for managing internal church matters and shaping foreign policy within the Vatican and on a global scale. This role granted him extensive knowledge about the political landscape of the Roman Catholic Church, both in the Vatican and on a worldwide level.

However, there’s a hint of controversy surrounding Parolin, as he has been associated with, but not formally accused, in relation to an investment in a London real estate project that turned sour. This incident led to the trial of Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine others for financial misconduct at the Vatican in 2021. (Becciu, who maintained his innocence, was found guilty of fraud and embezzlement.)

As the Archbishop of Kinshasa, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, aged 65, forged a strong relationship with Pope Francis, serving as part of his nine-member consultative body known as the Council of Cardinals.

Should I have the honor to be elected, I would make history as the inaugural African Pope. However, it’s essential to clarify my stance on certain issues that differ from my predecessor, Pope Francis. In particular, I have expressed opposition to his 2023 decision permitting blessings for same-sex couples. As a champion of traditional values within our faith, I would approach my role with a focus on upholding the established doctrines of our church while fostering unity and understanding among all members.

Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines often traveled alongside Pope Francis through Asia, making him a potential candidate to become the first-ever Asian pope in history (it’s worth noting that Pope Francis was the first non-European pope since 741 A.D., so this conclave could see many firsts).

Fondly referred to as “Chito” by his followers, this friendly 67-year-old individual has a history of supporting the underprivileged, aligning with Pope Francis’ values. Previously serving as archbishop of Manila, Tagle was summoned to Rome by France to lead the Vatican’s office dedicated to missionary evangelization.

During the 2013 conclave, Tagle had been mentioned as a potential candidate. However, due to his age of 55, he was deemed far too young for the position.

Matteo Zuppi from Bologna, Italy, who strongly advocates for the church to prioritize helping the needy, was appointed as a cardinal in 2019. There’s speculation that, had such practices been followed, he could have been personally chosen by Francis as his potential successor.

Since 2015, serving as the Archbishop of Bologna, he is widely recognized as “Don Matteo”, an advocate for immigrants and their struggles. Zuppi penned the introduction for the Italian translation of Reverend James Martin’s 2017 book titled “Building a Bridge“, which discusses ways the church could improve its outreach to individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.

He belonged to a group from the Sant’Egidio Community charity, which played a role in resolving Mozambique’s civil war during the 1990s. Later, Pope Francis appointed Zuppi as his representative for peace efforts amidst Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

In 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Peter Erdo, a resident of Hungary who was then 50 years old, as the youngest cardinal at that time. Notably, the current archbishop of Budapest is renowned for his advocacy towards Hungary’s Jewish community and for his efforts to connect with Catholics in Latin America and Africa. However, it’s worth mentioning that Erdo holds more deeply rooted conservative views compared to Pope Francis.

At the age of 72, he has expressed his opposition towards European nations welcoming immigrants and towards granting communion to Catholic individuals who are divorced. While Pope Francis himself did not prohibit this, he showed a willingness to consider such cases individually.

The Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Reinhard Marx (age 71), played a significant role as an advisor to Pope Francis and headed the Council for the Economy, established in 2014 with the mission to scrutinize Vatican finances during a period when the Church sought greater financial transparency. Marx remained on the council alongside only one other original member after six women were appointed by Pope Francis to join the body in 2020.

Last year in 2021, Marx tendered his resignation as archbishop to express remorse for the German church’s mishandling of allegations related to sexual abuse – a problem that has caused turmoil within the Catholic Church globally. However, Francis declined this offer and instead urged him to continue serving in his position.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet from Canada was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to supervise the office that assists in selecting diocese heads worldwide until 2023. Since 2019, this office has been conducting investigations into bishops accused of shielding abusive priests globally, which means Ouellet has reviewed numerous documents related to many church leaders.

Similar to Pope Francis, Ouellet advocates for an expanded role for women within the church; however, much like Pope Francis, he remains opposed to their ordination as priests.

Born in Chicago, Cardinal Robert Prevost stands poised to create history as the first American Pope. He has previously served as head of the diocese in Chiclayo, Peru, for nine years before being appointed by Francis to lead the global office that screens bishop nominations in 2023. At 69 years old, he is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a role that strengthens the church’s bond with the region where nearly 40% of the world’s Catholics live.

Christoph Schöenborn, who held the position of Archbishop of Vienna from September 1995 until January 22, 2025, has expressed his approval for civil unions and female deacons. Given that he was a teenager when his parents divorced, he also backed Pope Francis’ efforts to reach out to divorced and remarried Catholics.

In 2010, a 80-year-old individual criticized the Vatican for not punishing high-ranking officials who were accused of sexual misconduct in the past. This includes his own predecessor in Vienna, Hans Hermann Groër, who passed away in 2003 without ever being charged. Schöenborn specifically accused Cardinal Angelo Sodano (who died in 2022) of organizing a cover-up to shield Groër and downplaying the entire issue by labeling clerical abuse as mere rumors or gossip.

At the time when Benedict XVI was in charge, the Vatican reprimanded Schöenborn for expressing his views, indicating that it is only within the authority of a pope to make such an allegation against a cardinal.

75-year-old Anders Arborelius, who embraced Catholicism at the age of 20, made history in 2017 as Sweden’s inaugural Catholic cardinal. Prior to this, Sweden was predominantly Lutheran but has since evolved into a more secular nation. (Note: This version attempts to maintain the original structure while using simpler and more conversational language.)

A previous member of the Carmelite order recently expressed the importance of unity, stating during an interview (as reported by the New York Times), “There’s a risk in certain sectors of the church that divisions may arise due to differing opinions. We must avoid creating factions within the Catholic Church.

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2025-04-22 00:47