'Papabiles': 6 Candidates Who Could Be the Next Pope After the Papal Conclave

The 'Papabiles': Six Candidates Who Could Be the Next Pope After the Papal Conclave

With the passing of Pope Francis, the 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pontiff are set to gather in the coming weeks for a conclave.

Following a period of nine days of mourning for the late pope, the election process will commence behind closed doors. The adage "He who enters a conclave as pope emerges as a cardinal" reflects the uncertainty in predicting the successor to Pope Francis. Cardinal Mario Grech, Malta: Hailing from the small island of Gozo in Malta, Cardinal Mario Grech (68) has exhibited a viewpoint aligned with Pope Francis during his discussions at the Synods of Bishops in Rome.

In a December 2018 interview, he remarked, "While 'black' and 'white' still exist, the grey areas have expanded. It is in these nuances that we must seek understanding." As the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, he has played a crucial role in the synodal process initiated by Pope Francis and possesses extensive experience within the Vatican, having served on the Roman Rota. His prolonged tenure as a bishop in Malta, along with his small-country perspective, could prove beneficial.
Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal in 2020. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, The Philippines: Cardinal Tagle (66), formerly the Archbishop of Manila, comes from Asia's largest Catholic nation and one where the faith is rapidly growing. He has significant experience at the Vatican as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. His maternal heritage is Chinese, and after studying for seven years in the United States, he shares similar views with Pope Francis. Ordained in 1982 and made a bishop in 2001, he served as Archbishop of Manila from 2011 to 2020 and was appointed cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Tagle visited Ireland twice, captivating audiences at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012 and at the World Meeting of Families in 2018. Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Italy: Cardinal Zuppi (69) is the Archbishop of Bologna and the President of the Italian Bishops' Conference.

He may be a strong candidate if the conclave chooses another Italian pope following a lineage of popes from Poland, Germany, and Argentina. Sharing a Francis-like mentality, he stated last year that faith in God is not always a prerequisite for altruism; rather, loving one another is key. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to lead a diplomatic mission to help ease tensions in the Ukraine conflict and promote humanitarian gestures for a just peace, visiting Kyiv, Moscow, Washington, and Beijing. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Italy: Another Italian candidate is Cardinal Parolin (70) from Schiavon, who has served as the Vatican's Secretary of State since October 2013, throughout much of Francis's papacy. He recently met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican, bolstering his diplomatic credentials. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Ireland: Irish-born Cardinal Farrell (77), from Drimnagh, Dublin, currently serves as Camerlengo of the Vatican, overseeing its administration until a new pope is chosen. He entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and became a priest in 1978.

After serving as chaplain at the University of Monterrey in Mexico, he left the Legionaries and became a priest in the Archdiocese of Washington, eventually becoming auxiliary bishop and a senior advisor to the controversial Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. After a tenure in the U.S. where he was Bishop of Dallas, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in 2016, and he served in Ireland alongside Francis in 2018. Cardinal Peter Turkson, Ghana: Cardinal Turkson (75) is seen as the leading African papabile, representing Ghana as the first cardinal from the nation. He is known for his extensive Vatican experience and his efforts in promoting interreligious dialogue, drawing from his diverse family background—his mother was Methodist, and his uncle was Muslim. However, his age and the conservative nature of the African church may hinder his candidacy. The prospect of an African pope seems unlikely, especially after a 2024 statement from the Catholic bishops of Africa and Madagascar who opposed Pope Francis's 2023 declaration allowing blessings for same-sex couples, asserting that such unions are "contrary to the will of God.