Pope Francis: Meet the 15 Cardinals most likely to become the next Pope

Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 following a stroke and cardiac arrest at his residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Vatican City.

His death concluded a transformative 12-year papacy defined by his push for humility, social justice, and reform within the Catholic Church.

His funeral Mass was held on April 26, 2025, at St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and attended by global dignitaries and mourners.

Honoring his wishes, Pope Francis was laid to rest at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore near the Salus Populi Romani icon, marking the first time since 1903 a pope was buried outside Vatican City.

The College of Cardinals will convene on May 7, 2025, in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. The conclave will include 133 eligible cardinal electors under the age of 80. A two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be chosen.

Leading Contenders to Succeed Pope Francis

The list of papabili—cardinals considered strong candidates for the papacy — includes figures from across the globe, categorized by region:

Europe

Pietro Parolin (Italy, 70) – Vatican Secretary of State and seasoned diplomat, viewed as a front-runner.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy, 60) – Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, advocate for Middle East peace.

Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy, 69) – Archbishop of Bologna, known for humanitarian efforts and peace work in Ukraine.

Claudio Gugerotti (Italy, 69) – Prefect for Eastern Churches, expert on Eastern Christianity and diplomacy.

Jean-Marc Aveline (France, 66) – Archbishop of Marseille, strong supporter of interfaith dialogue.

Anders Arborelius (Sweden, 75) – First Swedish cardinal post-Reformation, firm on doctrine.

Mario Grech (Malta, 68) – Synod leader, potential consensus candidate.

Peter Erdo (Hungary, 72) – Canon law expert with conservative views and ties to Hungarian leadership.

Jean-Claude Hollerich (Luxembourg, 66) – Jesuit and Europe-Asia culture specialist.

Asia

Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines, 67) – Charismatic advocate for the marginalized and former Archbishop of Manila.

Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar, 76) – First cardinal from Myanmar, human rights defender, and regional Church leader.

Africa

Peter Turkson (Ghana, 76) – Prominent Vatican official and human development advocate.

Robert Sarah (Guinea, 79) – Vocal conservative, popular among traditionalists.

Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (DR Congo, 65) – Leading African Church figure, known for peace advocacy and conservative theology.

Americas

Robert Francis Prevost (USA, 69) – Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops with experience in Latin America.

Timothy Dolan (USA, 75) – Archbishop of New York, theologically conservative and socially engaged.

The conclave remains secretive with no formal campaigning, and while speculation continues, no candidate is guaranteed. The Church faces a critical choice as it looks to continue or redefine Pope Francis’s legacy.