Who Could Become the New Pope: Candidates for the Holy See
Foreign media outlets have already compiled lists of potential successors to Pope Francis. Although his passing seemed sudden, preparations for the conclave had been underway for some time. The following main contenders are being considered:
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Cardinal Tagle — former Archbishop of Manila, a liberal often called the "Asian Francis." He actively supports Vatican policies on LGBT issues and divorced couples.
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Cardinal Erdő — chief bishop of Hungary, a conservative allied with Viktor Orbán. He opposed Francis' course on migration and family policies.
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Cardinal Turkson — another conservative who has served in Rome since 2009, holding strong influence within the Vatican.
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Cardinal Sarah — a favorite among traditionalists, a supporter of the Latin Mass and critic of Francis' reforms. However, at over 80 years old, he is not eligible to vote in the conclave.
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Cardinal Parolin — Vatican Secretary of State and one of Francis' closest allies. If elected, he would become the first Italian pope since John Paul I.
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Cardinal Zuppi — one of the most liberal candidates, reportedly aligned with the American left wing of the Catholic Church and alleged to have blessed a same-sex marriage according to some Italian media.
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Cardinal Pizzaballa — Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, a moderate figure advocating for Christian unity.
Among the less likely candidates are Cardinals Eijk (Utrecht), Arborelius (Stockholm), and Ranjith (Colombo).
Traditionally, any Catholic male could theoretically become pope, but in practice, the choice is almost always limited to cardinals. History shows surprises are possible: John Paul II was little known outside Poland before his election.
The upcoming conclave will be one of the most critical in recent decades, shaping the direction of the Catholic Church in an era of global change.
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