As cardinals get ready to assemble for the papal conclave, the method in which a brand new pontiff is elected, Sky Information takes a have a look at who may just change Pope Francis.
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Surrounded via Michelangelo’s world-famous art work, 137 cardinal electors will attend a Faculty of Cardinals assembly within the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, the place they are going to be tasked with opting for the brand new chief of the Catholic church.
A silent election marketing campaign is all the time ongoing throughout the Vatican Town, particularly when a pope’s well being issues stand up.
Pope Francis, who suffered from continual lung illness, spent 5 weeks at Gemelli medical institution after being admitted for a respiration disaster in February that advanced into double pneumonia.
In 2021, after he had colon surgical operation and spent 10 days in medical institution, he mentioned some other people sought after him “useless” and had been “making ready the conclave”.
Learn extra:
Obituary: Francis used to be a champion of the disadvantaged
How is a brand new pope selected and what’s a papal conclave?
It is vitally onerous to expect who the following pope could be. Pope Francis himself used to be no longer intended to be pope – and didn’t need to be, as he published after being elected.
In step with what Sky Information understands, listed below are one of the vital imaginable applicants.
Pietro Parolin, 70
Symbol: Pietro Parolin. Document pic: Reuters
If the following pontiff is Italian, Pietro Parolin,the Vatican’s secretary of state, is extensively thought to be the frontrunner.
A well known diplomat and a strong determine on the Vatican, he used to be despatched internationally to deliver the Pope’s voice to tough spaces.
He used to be a detailed best friend to the overdue pontiff, and his mediation talents and robust persona would make him able to proceeding the reforms began via Pope Francis.
Matteo Zuppi, 69
Symbol: Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. Document pic: Reuters
The president of the Episcopal Convention of Italy and Archbishop of Bologna is every other most probably candidate.
He used to be the Pope’s particular envoy for the warfare in Ukraine, making journeys to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and Washington.
Again in 1992, he additionally helped finish the civil warfare in Mozambique whilst mediating the two-year-long Rome-based peace negotiations.
He has labored with the Neighborhood of Sant’Egidio, the outstanding Catholic NGO devoted to social carrier, and is considered essentially the most revolutionary a number of the applicants.
Jose Tolentino de Mendonca, 59
Symbol: Cardinal Jose Tolentino de Mendonca. Document pic: Reuters
The prefect of the Dicastery for Tradition and Schooling is every other imaginable candidate.
The Portuguese cardinal may be a member of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Religion, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Self-discipline of the Sacraments.
He has printed a large number of collections of poems and religious writings. On 16 February, he stood in for Pope Francis all over the Vatican’s Jubilee of Artists tournament.
Peter Erdo, 72
Symbol: Cardinal Peter Erdo. Document pic: Reuters
The Hungarian cardinal used to be discussed as a most probably papal candidate all over the final conclave.
He has additionally served because the president of the Council of the Bishops’ Meetings of Europe.
Cristobal Lopez Romero, 72
Symbol: Cristobal Lopez Romero after a consistory rite on the Vatican in 2019. Pic: Reuters
The Spanish Archbishop of Rabat moved to Morocco in 2003 after an extended stint of pastoral paintings in Latin The united states, in particular in Paraguay.
He’s a member of the Salesians – a congregation of fellows within the Catholic church.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 59
Symbol: Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Document pic: Reuters
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem used to be made a cardinal via Pope Francis two years in the past.
He has trustworthy himself to the Heart East, dealing with a number of crises, together with the war between Israel and Hamas.
Closing Christmas, he celebrated mass on the Holy Circle of relatives Church in Gaza.
Who chooses the brand new pope?
Best cardinals underneath the age of 80 can attend the papal conclave.
As of nowadays, there are 252 cardinals, 137 of whom are cardinal electors.
Learn extra: How is a brand new pope selected?
Following the final consistory in December 2024, Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals, whilst 23 had been created via Pope Benedict XVI and 5 via Pope John Paul II.
Pope Francis created cardinals from 72 other nations, and 24 of the ones international locations have by no means had a cardinal sooner than.
