What's happened
Following the death of Pope Francis at age 88, the College of Cardinals will convene to elect a new pope. The conclave process, steeped in tradition, involves secret voting among cardinals under 80. Key candidates include Cardinals Peter Erdo, Reinhard Marx, Marc Ouellet, and Pietro Parolin, each with distinct backgrounds and influences.
What's behind the headline?
Key Candidates and Their Influence
- Cardinal Peter Erdo: At 72, he has strong ties with European and African cardinals, suggesting he could unify diverse factions.
- Cardinal Reinhard Marx: Aged 71, he is viewed skeptically by conservatives due to his progressive views on church reforms, particularly regarding the clergy abuse scandal.
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet: At 80, he represents a more conservative approach, having been a key figure in the Vatican for over a decade, but he also supports greater roles for women in governance.
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin: The 70-year-old secretary of state is seen as a likely candidate who could maintain continuity with Francis's policies while bringing a more diplomatic approach.
The conclave's outcome will likely reflect the ongoing tensions within the Church between progressive and conservative factions, shaping its future direction.
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, the conclave will involve 138 eligible cardinals, many appointed by Francis, emphasizing a diverse representation. The Scotsman highlights the conclave's historical significance and the secretive nature of the voting process, which can take days or weeks. The Independent notes that the election process is not merely a popularity contest but a deeply spiritual and strategic endeavor, with potential candidates already being discussed. The South China Morning Post elaborates on the profiles of key candidates, suggesting that their backgrounds and relationships within the Church will play a crucial role in the election outcome.
How we got here
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, after 12 years as pope. His death has initiated the conclave process, where cardinals will elect his successor. The last conclave, which elected Francis, took place just 12 days after Benedict XVI's resignation.
Go deeper
- What are the main roles of the cardinals in the conclave?
- How long does the conclave usually take?
- What factors influence the election of a new pope?
More on these topics
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Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory
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Pietro Parolin is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. A cardinal since February 2014, he has served as the Secretary of State since October 2013 and a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers since July 2014.
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Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is the Holy See's independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. Vatican City became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty, and it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive domi
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Matteo Maria Zuppi is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Archbishop of Bologna since 12 December 2015. He was an auxiliary bishop of Rome from 2012 to 2015.
Pope Francis raised him to the rank of cardinal on 5 October 2019.
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Marc Armand Ouellet PSS is a Canadian prelate of the Catholic Church. He has been the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 30 June 2010.
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Robert Sarah is a Guinean prelate of the Catholic Church. A cardinal since 20 November 2010, he was prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 23 November 2014 to 20 February 2021.
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Reinhard Marx (born 21 September 1953) is a German Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Munich and Freising since 2008. Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal in 2010.