- Pope Francis dies astatine 88 aft battling treble pneumonia, leaving galore to wonderment who volition win him
- The Vatican volition soon convene a papal conclave to elite a caller pope, with 138 electors eligible to vote
- Prominent cardinals similar Pietro Parolin, Peter Erdö, Luis Antonio Tagle, Matteo Zuppi, and Raymond Leo Burke are considered apical contenders for the papacy
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis died astatine the property of 88.
The pontiff, who was Bishop of Rome and caput of the Catholic Church, became pope successful 2013 aft his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned.
Francis remained hospitalised with treble pneumonia, leaving galore to ponder who mightiness win him.

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The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff is suffering from “bilateral pneumonia,” affecting some of his lungs. His wellness presented a “complex picture,” arsenic outlined by Vatican officials aft helium was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
Papal conclave: The Path to choosing a Successor
With the passing distant of Pope Francis, the Vatican volition present convene to elite the adjacent person of the Catholic Church.
The conclave, composed of the College of Cardinals, is liable for choosing the caller pope. As of January 2025, determination are 138 electors retired of 252 cardinals, with lone those nether 80 allowed to vote.
The conclave typically involves aggregate rounds of voting, and a two-thirds bulk is required for a campaigner to beryllium elected.
This process is expected to instrumentality anyplace from 15 to 20 days, with the satellite watching intimately to spot who emerges arsenic the adjacent spiritual person of the Catholic Church.
Key Cardinals Who Could Succeed Pope Francis
Several salient cardinals are being discussed arsenic imaginable candidates for the papacy. Each of these men has their ain unsocial qualities that could signifier the absorption of the religion successful the coming years.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
At 70 years old, Cardinal Parolin is the existent Secretary of State of the Vatican and holds the highest fertile among the cardinals eligible to vote. Known arsenic a mean figure, Parolin has gained respect for his diplomatic acumen and balanced attack to governmental and theological issues. He has precocious voiced opinions connected planetary diplomacy, including the request for peaceful solutions to planetary conflicts.
"Everyone tin lend to peace, but solutions indispensable ne'er beryllium pursued done unilateral impositions that hazard trampling connected the rights of full peoples," Parolin stated.Cardinal Peter Erdö
Cardinal Erdö, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, is known for his blimpish views and has been an outspoken professional of much progressive religion policies. At 72, helium is 1 of the church’s starring voices connected accepted Catholic values, peculiarly regarding issues specified arsenic divorcement and remarriage.
"We cannot let the sacraments to beryllium treated with disrespect. Marriage is indissoluble, and the religion indispensable support its ineffable teachings," Erdö has said.Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
At 67, Cardinal Tagle from the Philippines is considered a progressive fig wrong the Church. He has advocated for a much inclusive attack to LGBT issues and criticized the harsh connection historically utilized against definite communities. His much inclusive stance aligns with Pope Francis’s vision, making him a imaginable successor with a akin attack to societal justice.
"The harsh words that were utilized successful the past to notation to gays and divorced and separated people... led to their isolation from wider society," Tagle said.Cardinal Matteo Zuppi
A favourite of Pope Francis, Cardinal Zuppi is 69 and has served arsenic president of the Italian Episcopal Conference. Known for his diplomatic missions, helium has worked successful bid negotiations, including efforts successful Ukraine. Zuppi is besides recognised for his progressive stance connected LGBTQ issues and his telephone for the Church to follow a much pastoral approach.
"We request to promote dialog and knowing betwixt the Church and the LGBT community," Zuppi wrote successful 2018.Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke
Cardinal Burke, 74, is known for his traditionalist views and is often captious of Pope Francis’s much wide policies. A erstwhile Vatican official, Burke has publically opposed galore of the changes implemented nether Pope Francis, peculiarly regarding the attraction of divorced and remarried Catholics. His views connected issues specified arsenic artificial contraception and same-sex matrimony marque him a polarising fig successful the Church.
"Catholic politicians who enactment legalised ab0rtion should not person the Eucharist," Burke has stated.
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