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The Sun
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Who will be the next Pope? Leading contenders to replace Francis as secretive Conclave begins & all eyes on Vatican
Lydia Doye Published: Invalid Date, WITH the conclave set to gather to choose the next pope, all eyes turn to the Vatican. Cardinals from across the world have arrived in the holy city ahead of the historic event, which will begin on Wednesday. 4 The ritual of electing a new pope is now ready to begin as the mourning period for the late Pope Francis draws to a close. And preparations for the event are already underway as cardinals and visitors arrive in the holy city. The democratic process sees multiple rounds of voting by cardinals under the age of 80 who make up the conclave. This continues until a clear successor is chosen by consensus. For a pope to be elected they must get two-thirds of the vote - and each cardinal's vote has equal value. All cardinals across the world are called to Rome for the conclave, with 133 out of the current 252 set to attend. Here are some of the front-runners: CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN Italian Parolin, 70, is currently the Vatican's Secretary of State, and is now considered the main candidate in the running to become the next pope. He treads the middle ground on most political questions facing the Church, and has spent years abroad in Nigeria and Mexico as a diplomat. Parolin would be seen as an extension of Francis's legacy. Moment Trump and Zelensky meet at the Vatican during Pope Francis' funeral CARDINAL PETER ERDO Erdo, 72, is a former President of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe - a group of 33 leading Bishops from the continent. The Hungarian is a devout Marian, which means he directs his religious practices towards Mary, mother of Jesus. He is the leading candidate on the Conservative wing of the church and it is thought he could be the main challenger to Cardinal Parolin in the early stages of the conclave. Erdo is a staunch Conservative, and opposes divorced or remarried Catholics partaking in Holy Communion. He has made some controversial claims in his time, including likening taking in refugees to human trafficking. The distinguished cardinal is fluent in Hungarian, English, Italian, French and Latin. CARDINAL LUIS TAGLE Tagle, 67, has been dubbed the "Asian Pope Francis", because his views largely align with the late Pontiff. He has criticised the Church's "severe" stance on gay people, divorcees and single mothers. Tagle is the seventh cardinal ever from the Philippines and, if picked, would become the first Asian Pope. He was previously considered to be one of the favourites but there are now serious questions as to whether he has much support among his fellow cardinals. CARDINAL JEAN-MARC AVELINE Aveline, 66 is the Archbishop of Marseille and, if elected, would make history as the first French pope since Gregory XI died in 1378. He strongly agreed with Francis' stance on migrants, speaking out on avoiding "criminalisation of immigrants as the cause of all evil". Aveline has also worked hard to promote dialogue with Islam and Judaism, setting up an Institute of Science and Theology of Religions in Marseille. The cardinal was thought to be close to Francis as the Pope visited him in Marseille two years ago. But while he speaks Arabic, he does not speak fluent Italian which could count against him. CARDINAL PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Pizzaballa, 60, is one of the youngest cardinals in the running to become the next pope. Ordained in Italy when he was 25, the cardinal immediately moved to Jerusalem where he has lived there ever since. Pope Francis made him Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem five years ago and later cardinal, and Pizzaballa has spoken of the city as "the heart of the life of this world". Fellow cardinals will have been impressed by his deep understanding of Israelis and Palestinians amid the ongoing war in the region. CARDINAL MATTEO ZUPPI Italian Cardinal Zuppi, 69, is known to have been a favourite of the late Pope Francis, who in 2023 asked him to carry out a mission to bring peace in the Russia-Ukraine war. Zuppi met with Zelenksy, but not Putin - and later in the year flew to the US to meet President Biden. He has been the president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022. The cardinal holds much more progressive views than many of his peers, writing in book in 2018 that the Church should seek dialogue and understanding with "our LGBT brothers and sisters". CARDINAL FRIDOLIN AMBONGO BESUNGU Besungu, 65, is a Congolese cardinal who has publicly clashed with Francis in the past. He rejected a decree from Francis that the church should give its blessing to homosexual couples, arguing it "cannot be carried out in Africa without [Christians] exposing themselves to scandals". He effectively declared the doctrine, called Fiducia supplicans, null and void on the African continent. If Besungu - the youngest of the front-runners - was elected as Pope, his leadership would likely force a U-turn on much of Francis's work. CARDINAL MARIO GRECH Grech, 67, from Malta, is considered a moderate voice within the Church. He has spoken about the importance of reaching out to communities that feel rejected by the Church due to the sexuality or marriage status. He was elevated to the position of cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020. CARDINAL RAYMOND BURKE Burke, 76, is another unwavering conservative, who believes strongly in the traditions of Latin Mass. Hailing from Wisconsin, USA, Burke doesn't believe that people who have divorced and remarried should be allowed to receive Holy Communion. He also branded as "objectionable" the Church's reformed approach to gay people, civil marriages and contraception.
New York Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
What to Know About the Conclave to Choose Pope Francis' Successor
Who are the top contenders? Experts say there isn't a single front-runner, but several names have been cited. It's very difficult to predict who will be chosen: Before the selection of Pope Francis in 2013, many bookmakers did not count him among the front-runners. One big question is whether a successor to Francis should push forward or roll back the changes he made to the church. Many of the contenders are aligned with Francis, though some are more progressive or conservative. One big-name candidate is Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, who was Francis' second-in-command and who may have the support of the Curia, as the Vatican bureaucracy is known. Others are considered more charismatic, like Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, who is sometimes called the 'Asian Francis.' Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary, an expert on canon law, is expected to be a front-runner among cardinals who long for a return to the conservatism of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. The next pope technically doesn't have to be among the cardinals who can vote. But he will almost certainly come from the conclave's electorate.
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Days before conclave, cardinals in Rome pitch messages to the pews
Cardinal Peter Erdo walking near Basilica of Santa Francesca Romana on the day he presides over the Sunday Mass on May 4. PHOTO: REUTERS ROME – Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of France cooed at babies on May 4 at a church in the Monti neighbourhood of Rome. Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary asked for prayers for fellow cardinals at a church near the Colosseum. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Congo joined priests from across the globe behind the altar of a church in western Rome. The three cardinals – considered contenders, though not favourites, to become the next pope – were among those celebrating Mass across Rome on May 4, making among their final public appearances before the conclave to elect a pope begins on May 7. Campaign rallies they were not. But in the homilies the cardinals delivered, and in their interactions with the faithful, they offered hints at the messages they might be giving to other cardinals, and to what kind of pope they might want, or want to be. All cardinals are assigned what is known as a titular church in Rome; when they are in town, they can choose to celebrate Mass there. Some, including Aveline and Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, a leading papal contender, had done so last week. Tagle drew hundreds of Filipino faithful to his titular church in the gritty Centocelle suburb on May 1. A smattering of lesser-known cardinals also fanned out across the city on May 4, giving eager Vatican watchers a chance to snap photos of them all over town. But the two Italian favourites, Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, did not take to the pulpit, acting like front-runners in a political campaign who chose to remain silent rather than, perhaps, make a mistake and lose electoral ground. A few curious Catholics – and news reporters scrutinising cardinals' every move – showed up to Pizzaballa's titular church anyway, hoping to catch a glimpse of a potential new pontiff. 'I'll understand if you desire to go,' the priest at the church of Sant'Onofrio al Gianicolo, on a hill overlooking Rome, told about a dozen parishioners. 'Cardinal Pizzaballa will not be here today or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.' The parishioners stayed. The half-dozen reporters milling around took off, contenting themselves with chatting with Francesco Ziaco, a 63-year-old banker who had come to see Pizzaballa – and who happened to also look a lot like him. (A reporter from RAI, the Italian broadcaster, asked Mr Ziaco if he was the cardinal, going clandestine in civilian clothes. Though he was not, he acknowledged, 'The first time I saw his picture, I thought, 'This guy looks like me.'') The cardinals who did celebrate Mass were met with enthusiastic support. A standing-room-only crowd filled the Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana, also known as Santa Maria Nova, waiting for Erdo, the archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, to arrive. Several rows of chairs painted in gold near the front of the church were reserved for dignitaries, including the Hungarian ambassadors to the Holy See and to Italy. In his homily, the cardinal, a favourite of conservative Catholics, urged the faithful to pray for a new pope 'who will have to deepen the church's mission in a dramatic phase of humanity's history'. 'The church of today must confront first of all the question of its own ambition,' he said, calling for traditions to be protected and the church to focus on evangelisation. Erdo, 72, did not mingle with parishioners. He waved off reporters who asked questions but did lower his car window on the way out to greet a toddler. The tone of Aveline's Mass felt lighter. He opened the service at Santa Maria ai Monti by thanking the Virgin of the Mount for having performed a 'little miracle'. Later in the service, the parish priest, the Reverend Francesco Pesce, explained that the cardinal's bag had been stolen at Mass at the church last week. Three days later, it was found. Rev Pesce joked that he would become pope and make Aveline his secretary of state. There were laughs all around. The cardinal thanked parishioners for making him feel at home. 'Do not be afraid of the truth, it will set us free,' Aveline, 66, the archbishop of Marseille, said during his homily. 'Do not be afraid of those who are different from us, because each man and each woman is a brother and sister for whom Christ has risen.' Aveline individually named the teenagers who had been confirmed, one of the sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church, a week earlier. He stopped by the front pews to shake hands with elementary school children whom he later joined in the sacristy for a chat. He spoke with parishioners and patted babies. He did not speak with reporters. At the San Gabriele Arcangelo all'Acqua Traversa, Ambongo, the archbishop of Kinshasa, made a point to stress the universality of the church in a homily delivered from an altar with priests from the Philippines, India, Madagascar and Italy. Ambongo, 65, a favourite of Francis, asked the faithful to pray for the cardinals entering in the conclave so that they would be illuminated with the Holy Spirit 'to elect for the universal church a pope' who is ready to face the challenges of the modern world. After Mass, the cardinal met reporters, staying on message with the sort of discipline that would make many political operatives jealous. 'I asked for prayers – not for prayers for a certain cardinal, for a cardinal from a certain part of the world,' he said. 'We pray for a pastor that God wants for his universal church.' Ambongo dodged questions about gay, lesbian and transgender Catholics, of whom he has been less than inclusive, saying, 'It's not the time to talk about these things'. Then he said hello to parishioners, kissed a baby and went to lunch, hoping, he said, that the papal election would be a short one. 'We hope that it will not take a long, long time,' he said. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible contenders
Pope Francis' death on Monday, the day after Easter Sunday, started off a series of traditions that in a few weeks will culminate in a vote for the next pope. Francis' successor will be decided by the Catholic Church's Cardinal Electors, a group of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80, who are expected to begin their conclave in early to mid-May to hold a secretive election for the next pontiff. Over the last 600 years — since 1378 — cardinals have been chosen for the position, although eligibility technically extends to any male Roman Catholic who has been baptized. Here is look at some of the cardinals considered possible contenders to become pope: Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest, Hungary Cardinal Peter Erdo, a 72-year-old canon lawyer, is the highest ranking Catholic leader in a country that is 80% Christian. He is known for his support of the pope's outreach to Orthodox Christians. Erdo is also on the conservative side of the European cultural divide. On migration, a key issue for Hungary, he has conveyed a balanced approach, recognizing the right to migrate but also the importance of ensuring political stability. Erdo is considered a traditionalist but is also respected by liberals, which could make him a unifying force within the church. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, grew global attention for leading African bishops in unanimous rejection of "Fiducia Supplicans," a declaration the Vatican issued in 2023 that included guidelines on the blessings of people in same-sex relationships. At 65 years old, he is known as a supporter of orthodoxy and defends priestly celibacy and the Church's moral teachings. He is also known as a promoter of social justice and a champion of the poor and voiceless, and is outspoken in his criticism of the Congolese government. Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general for the Synod of Bishops Cardinal Mario Grech, 68, is a canon lawyer who has major influence on how synods in the church are run. Supporters have praised him for leading the charge in implementing a more consultative and inclusive approach to church governance. Grech comes from Malta, which is one of the smallest countries in the world. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is second-in-command at the Vatican and a career diplomat who has consistently risen above any turbulence marking the pontificate. He is regarded as a moderate who, if elected, could repair rifts inside the church. He is also considered a progressive with a global vision. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, is a pastoral candidate who has spoken out amid the Israel-Hamas war and visited Gaza during the conflict. He is a proponent of social justice and sees himself as a servant of the people. He is similar to Francis in his concern for migrants, interfaith dialogue and his disdain for clericalism. Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, and pro-prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is known as the "Asian Francis" for his missionary spirit as well as his emphasis on caring for the poor and welcoming of LGBTQ and divorced and remarried Catholics. He is the former archbishop of Manila, in the Philippines, which is one of the most Catholic countries on the continent of Asia, and studied in the U.S. for seven years. His election would signal a continuation of Francis' pontificate. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, Italy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, is the president of the Italian bishops conference. He is known as a "street priest" and missionary and wants a church that listens to the faithful and is willing to modernize. Zuppi is inclusive of same-sex couples, as well as people of different religions. Francis chose Zuppi as his envoy to Russia and Ukraine, as well as to the West Bank and Beijing, to promote peace. Cardinal Anders Arborelius, archbishop of Stockholm Cardinal Anders Arborelius, 75, was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism at the age of 20. He is the first ever cardinal from Scandinavia. He is also a traditionalist on the church's teaching on sexual ethics and gender, and has a strong concern for the environment. Arborelius has been a proponent of immigration into Sweden, calling for dialogue and integration instead of restrictions. Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec, Canada, is 67 years old. Earlier in his career he spent years as a missionary and seminary professor in Colombia. He temporarily stepped back from his duties amid sexual abuse allegations, which he denied, and returned to his duties last year after a church-led investigation found no evidence of misconduct. Inside the monarch butterfly migration mystery: flying to Mexico from Canada, the U.S. Scientists warn what future bird flu mutations could mean for people | 60 Minutes What's next for AI at DeepMind, Google's artificial intelligence lab | 60 Minutes
Scotsman
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Inside Conclave: The cardinals seen as contenders to be the next pope after Francis's death
Former US president Joe Biden has said Pope Francis will be remembered as 'one of the most consequential leaders of our time'. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you 'enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal'. It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christ's Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nevertheless, there are always frontrunners, known as 'papabile', who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope – much like those depicted in last year's Oscar-nominated film Conclave. (From left to right): Cardinals Peter Erdo, Reinhard Marx and Pietro Parolin Any baptised Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis, who died yesterday Monday, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at 76, and that Karol Wojtyla was not on any frontrunner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. Some possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis are: Cardinal Peter Erdo The 72-year-old Archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, he got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops' conferences. He had even more exposure when he helped organise Francis's 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family. Cardinal Reinhard Marx Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 71-year-old Archbishop of Munich and Freising was chosen by Pope Francis as a key adviser in 2013, and was later named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops' conference was a strong proponent of the controversial 'synodal path' process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal there. As a result, he is viewed with scepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity. He made headlines in 2021 when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German church's dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay. Cardinal Marc Ouellet Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 80-year-old Canadian led the Vatican's influential bishops office for more than a decade, overseeing the key clearing house for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept him in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Cardinal Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Francis's belief that bishops should 'smell like the sheep' of their flock. He defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on women's ordination. Cardinal Pietro Parolin The 70-year-old Italian has been Francis's secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy See's controversial deal with China over bishop nominations and was involved – but not charged – in the Vatican's botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to the trial in 2021 of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Cardinal Parolin would be seen as someone who would continue in Francis's tradition, but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St John Paul II (Poland), Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). Cardinal Robert Prevost The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States, but the Chicago-born 69-year-old could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is prefect of the Vatican's powerful Dicastery for Bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome. Cardinal Robert Sarah The 79-year-old, from Guinea, the retired head of the Vatican's liturgy office, has long been considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, he would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Cardinal Sarah, who had previously headed the Vatican's charity office Cor Unum, clashed with Francis on several occasions, none more seriously than when he and Benedict co-authored a book advocating the 'necessity' of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 80-year-old Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedict's, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives.
