Who will succeed Pope Francis? Meet 8 frontrunners to be elected as next pontiff | World News

Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday after prolonged illness. He was the first Latin American pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church after taking over from Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013.This comes a day after Pope Francis made a surprise appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting a crowd of more than 35,000 in St. Peter’s Square since recovering from a severe case of double penumonia.
Who could be the next pope?
The passing of the pontiff triggers the Interregnum, the intervening period between two papacies. A period of Sede Vacante, meaning “the seat is vacant” begins, during which the rule of the Church falls to the College.
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Technically, any Roman Catholic man can be elected as the heir to St. Peter. Though invariably one of the 253 cardinals from around the world will don the papal tiara.
However, only 138 of the 253 cardinals will be able to serve as electors in the next conclave as no cardinals over the age of 80 can participate in voting. This number was raised Pope Francis from 120 in December 2024.
Who are the front-runners to be elected next pontiff after Pope Francis?
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy
The Vatican’s secretary of state, Pietro Parolin served in Pope Francis’ Vatican for 11 years and has become the favourite among bookmakers since last November.Story continues below this ad
He was made a cardinal in 2014 Pope Francis. Parolin would be considered an extension of the legacy of Francis.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, Democratic Republic of the Congo
President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu is another front-runner in the race to succeed Pope Francis.
The conservative Capuchin made headlines rejecting a controversial declaration of Pope Francis. He declared the doctrine of Fiducia supplicans — which allowed priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples —- null and void on the African continent.
Besungu was able to achieve explicit blessing from Pope Francis in an emergency meeting in 2023.
Cardinal Wim Eijk, 71, the NetherlandsStory continues below this ad
Willem Jacobus Eijk, a former medical doctor, is widely seen as one of the most conservative of the front-runners. Eijk was made a cardinal Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
Ejik staunchly opposed Francis’ endorsement of civil remarriages in the case of not receiving an annulment of the first marriage.
Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, Hungary
Former president of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe and a devout Marian, Peter Erdo has long been a figure of consequence in the politics of the contemporary church.
A conservative, Erdo has previously opposed the practice of divorced or remarried Catholics receiving Holy Communion due to the doctrinal belief in the insolubility of marriage.Story continues below this ad
Erdo was made a cardinal in 2003 Pope John Paul II.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, Philippines
Luis Antonio Tagle, often dubbed as the “Asian Pope Francis” — is considered left-leaning politically and has been critical of the Church’s treatment of LGBT people and divorced and remarried Catholics. In a 2015 interview, he said the Church’s “severe” stance on gay people, divorcees and single mothers has done harm to its goal of evangelising.
Tagle is just the seventh Filipino to be made a cardinal and would be the first pope to come from the Asian continent if elected.
He was made a cardinal Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, United States of AmericaStory continues below this ad
Raymond Burke is considered the leading arch-conservative in the church — a proponent of the Latin Mass and a public critic of Pope Francis’ liberal tendencies.
The Wisconsin native and former archbishop of St. Louis challenged Francis’ willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Euchar. Burke has also challenged the Church’s new language around artificial contraception, gay people and civil marriages as “objectionable”.
Burke was made a cardinal Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
Cardinal Mario Grech, 67, Malta
The current secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, Mario Grech is considered a potential moderate successor of Pope Francis.Story continues below this ad
He has previously spoken of the necessity to reach out to those who are ostracised from the Church due to their sexuality or marital status.
Grech was made a cardinal in 2020 Pope Francis.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy
President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Matteo Zuppi was born in Rome and served in the key position of archbishop of Bologna, Italy — making him an insider in Francis’ Vatican.
A favorite of Francis, Zuppi was asked in 2023 to carry out a high-profile peace mission in Ukraine — meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the ill-fated trip. That same year, he was sent to the United States to meet with noted Catholic President Joe Biden.
He was made a cardinal Pope Francis in 2019.
(With inputs from New York Post)