Cardinals considered likely candidates for the conclave
Potential cardinals for the 2025 Conclave: the favourites, from Parolin to Tegle | Sky TG24
There are 133 cardinals (following the withdrawal of two electors for health reasons) who are entitled to vote and who will enter the Conclave (LIVE COVERAGE) to elect the new Pope, the successor to Pope Francis, died on 21 April at the age of 88. To be eligible to vote, cardinals must not have reached the age of 80 before Bergoglio’s death. Names of possible “papabili” to succeed Francis on the papal throne have been circulating for some time now: here are a few:
Pope Francis’s moves
- Bergoglio has appointed a total of 163 cardinals. To date, the electors he has appointed number 108: a figure that constitutes the overwhelming majority of the 135 who, prior to their withdrawal, were eligible to enter the Conclave (22 were created by Benedict XVI, whilst only five were appointed by Wojtyła), although it cannot be said that this is a homogeneous or monolithic group in terms of their views on issues concerning the life and governance of the Church.
Potential candidates
- Among the names being mentioned as possible successors to Bergoglio are those of Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo M. Zuppi. Also mentioned are the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa; Péter Erdő from Hungary; Jean-Marc Aveline from France; Willem J. Eijk from the Netherlands, Luis Tagle from the Philippines to represent the Asian Church, or Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the Congo (should there be a first African Pope). Also among the names is Joseph Tobin, the 72-year-old Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.
As of 8 May 2025, the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor is underway. The cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, began the secret and ritual selection process on 7 May, but no agreement has yet been reached. Black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel has signalled that a new pope has not yet been chosen. The conclave will continue until one of the candidates secures a two-thirds qualified majority. (TAG24, Reuters)
Among the main “contenders” – that is, the most likely candidates – several prominent figures stand out:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin: Vatican Secretary of State, known for his diplomatic experience and knowledge of the Roman Curia. He is regarded as a figure of continuity, but his lack of direct pastoral experience could be a limitation. (La Nuova Sardegna)
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi: Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Bishops“ Conference. He is regarded as a staunch supporter of Pope Bergoglio, committed to interfaith dialogue and mediation in international conflicts. His close ties to the Community of Sant’Egidio give him a network of global influence. (La Nuova Sardegna)
- Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa: Patriarch of Jerusalem, known for his role in diplomacy and reconciliation in the Middle East. His experience in conflict situations makes him a candidate respected by both conservatives and progressives. (Infovaticana Italy)
🌍 Other countries
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines): Charismatic and close to the people, he is regarded as the face of Asian Catholicism. His appointment as Prefect of the Dicastery for the Evangelisation of Peoples has been seen as a sign that he may stand as a candidate. (Infovaticana Italy)
- Cardinal Robert Sarah (Guinea): Known for his firm stances on liturgy and Catholic morality, he could represent a shift towards a more conservative approach compared with Pope Francis’s pontificate. (TAG24)
- Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (Austria): A well-rounded figure with a solid grounding in theology, he played an important role in the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and was noted for his moderate and dialogue-oriented approach to ethical and social issues. (TAG24)
The conclave will continue with further rounds of voting until a new pope is elected. The situation remains fluid, and further developments may emerge in the coming hours.
