The Indians who could be Pope
The Vatican on Monday (April 21, 2025) announced the death of Pope Francis, and began the nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, an ancient Roman tradition that continues to this day.
Pope Francis death LIVE updates
The papacy has been declared empty and the church entered a period called the 'sede vacante'. This period prevails until the College of Cardinals — a body that comprises all Cardinals of the Catholic Church — convenes in the Sistine Chapel for a closed-door 'Conclave' to appoint the new leader of the Catholic church, which has over a billion followers worldwide. The Conclave ends with the selection of the new Pope, the period until which the Cardinals will remain in the Vatican having no communication with the outside world.
According to the Vatican, the College of Cardinals currently has 252 Cardinals, of whom only 138 get to vote in the Conclave as Cardinals above 80 years are not eligible to vote.
There are currently six Cardinals from India, of whom five are eligible to vote in the Conclave.
Here is a look at the Cardinals from India:
Cardinal Baselios Cleemis: Born in 1960 in Kerala, he is the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum for Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He was ordained a priest in June 1986. Between 2014 and 2018, he also served as the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). Pope Benedict XVI appointed Card. Cleemis to the College of Cardinals in 2012. Card. Cleemis was also among the 117 Cardinal electors to vote in the 2013 Conclave to elect Pope Francis after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. In 2024, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the C. Kesavan award for 2023 Card. Cleemis for his work towards the 'betterment of the life of the poor'.
Born in 1960 in Kerala, he is the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum for Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He was ordained a priest in June 1986. Between 2014 and 2018, he also served as the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). Pope Benedict XVI appointed Card. Cleemis to the College of Cardinals in 2012. Card. Cleemis was also among the 117 Cardinal electors to vote in the 2013 Conclave to elect Pope Francis after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. In 2024, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the C. Kesavan award for 2023 Card. Cleemis for his work towards the 'betterment of the life of the poor'. Cardinal Oswald Gracias: He was born in 1944 in Mahim, Mumbai. According to data from the Holy See's press office, Card. Gracias served as the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) from 2005 to 2011 and as the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) between 2010 and 2014. He was also elevated as a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and was one among the Cardinal Electors in 2013. However, Card. Gracias is above 80 years of age and will no longer be among the electors.
He was born in 1944 in Mahim, Mumbai. According to data from the Holy See's press office, Card. Gracias served as the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) from 2005 to 2011 and as the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) between 2010 and 2014. He was also elevated as a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and was one among the Cardinal Electors in 2013. However, Card. Gracias is above 80 years of age and will no longer be among the electors. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao: He is the current Archbishop of Goa and Daman and was born in 1953 in Aldona, Goa. Pope Francis proclaimed him a cardinal in 2022. He is also the current president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and is also the bishop of the Santa Maria in Via.
He is the current Archbishop of Goa and Daman and was born in 1953 in Aldona, Goa. Pope Francis proclaimed him a cardinal in 2022. He is also the current president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and is also the bishop of the Santa Maria in Via. Cardinal George Koovakad: He was born in Kerala in 1973. He was also appointed as a Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2024. During his elevation, several people flocked to the Lord's Matha Church in Mammoodu, the Cardinal's home parish in Kottayam, Kerala, to mark the occasion. He has also worked at the Vatican's Secreatariat of State and in 2021, he was also charged with organisation of the Pope's journeys.
He was born in Kerala in 1973. He was also appointed as a Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2024. During his elevation, several people flocked to the Lord's Matha Church in Mammoodu, the Cardinal's home parish in Kottayam, Kerala, to mark the occasion. He has also worked at the Vatican's Secreatariat of State and in 2021, he was also charged with organisation of the Pope's journeys. Cardinal George Alencherry: Born in 1945 in Kerala, Card. Alencherry is the Major Archbishop emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was appointed as a Cardinal in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. He was also appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Thuckalay when Pope John Paul II established it in 1996. He was also among the cardinal electors in 2013. In 2023, Card. Alencherry stepped down as the head of the Syro-Malabar Church and its major Archbishop. Pope Francis accepted his request to be relieved of duties considering his health condition and the increasing demands of pastoral care. Card. Alencherry is nearing 80 years and will not be a Cardinal Elector after April 2025.
Born in 1945 in Kerala, Card. Alencherry is the Major Archbishop emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was appointed as a Cardinal in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. He was also appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Thuckalay when Pope John Paul II established it in 1996. He was also among the cardinal electors in 2013. In 2023, Card. Alencherry stepped down as the head of the Syro-Malabar Church and its major Archbishop. Pope Francis accepted his request to be relieved of duties considering his health condition and the increasing demands of pastoral care. Card. Alencherry is nearing 80 years and will not be a Cardinal Elector after April 2025. Cardinal Anthony Poola: The first Dalit archbishop from India, Card. Poola is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad. He was born in 1961 in Andhra Pradesh. He was appointed a Cardinal by Pope Francis in August 2022. In an interview with Vatican News in 2022, he said that he had to stop school education after seventh class due to poverty but the missionaries helped him with his education. This, he said, made him want to help poor children.
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