Who Will Be the Next Pope? Top Candidates in an Unpredictable Process

Key Details of the Conclave

• Date: Begins on 7 May
• Location: Sistine Chapel
• Participants: 133 cardinals aged under 80
• Voting Requirement: Two-thirds majority
• Significance: Potential profound impact on the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion members
• Diversity: Less than half of the voting cardinals are European; 80% appointed by Pope Francis

Main Candidates for the Papacy

Pietro Parolin

• Nationality: Italian
• Age: 70
• Background: Former Vatican secretary of state; acted as "deputy pope"
• Views: Prioritizes diplomacy; critical of same-sex marriage legalization
• Challenges: Old Italian saying, "He who enters a conclave as a pope, leaves it as a cardinal."

Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle

• Nationality: Filipino
• Age: 67
• Background: Known as "Asian Francis", moderate with pastoral experience
• Views: Opposes abortion and euthanasia; calls for reassessment of Church's stance on social issues

Fridolin Ambongo Besungu

• Nationality: Congolese
• Age: 65
• Background: Archbishop of Kinshasa, advocate against jihadist threats
• Views: Conservative; supports religious plurality

Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson

• Nationality: Ghanaian
• Age: 76
• Background: Known for energetic presence and past candidacy
• Views: Opposes criminalization of homosexuality, conservative on Church issues

Peter Erdo

• Nationality: Hungarian
• Age: 72
• Background: Well-regarded in Europe, known for conservative family views
• Challenges: Navigating Hungarian politics, migrant crisis

Angelo Scola

• Nationality: Italian
• Age: 83
• Background: Former Archbishop of Milan; focus on old age

Reinhard Marx

• Nationality: German
• Age: 71
• Background: Vatican insider, adviser to Pope Francis
• Views: Accommodating towards LGBT; faced controversy over abuse handling

Marc Ouellet

• Nationality: Canadian
• Age: 80
• Background: Former head of Dicastery for Bishops; conservative

Robert Prevost

• Nationality: American
• Age: 69
• Background: Prefect of Dicastery for Bishops; missionary in Peru
• Challenges: Youth and past abuse cover-up allegations

Robert Sarah

• Nationality: Guinean
• Age: 79
• Background: Known for traditional liturgy and doctrine adherence

Pierbattista Pizzaballa

• Nationality: Italian
• Age: 60
• Background: Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; experienced in Middle East issues

Matteo Zuppi

• Nationality: Italian
• Age: 69
• Background: Mediator in international conflicts; close to Francis

Jean-Marc Aveline

• Nationality: French
• Age: 66
• Background: Archbishop of Marseille, promotes dialogue with Islam and Judaism

Charles Maung Bo

• Nationality: Myanmar
• Age: 76
• Background: Led Asian bishops; advocate for diversity

Michael Czerny

• Nationality: Canadian
• Age: 78
• Background: Jesuit, promotes human development

Conclusion

The election of the next pope is an unpredictable process with candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The conclave will weigh global perspectives, conservative and progressive views, and individual experiences to select the next leader of the Catholic Church.