Cardinals from around the world are expected to meet Monday to fix a date for the conclave that will elect a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, following the death of Pope Francis.
Since the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff passed away on April 21, dozens of cardinals — often referred to as “Princes of the Church” — have been gathering at the Vatican. However, there remains little clarity over who might emerge as his successor.
“I believe that if Francis has been the pope of surprises, this conclave will be too, as it is not at all predictable,” Spanish Cardinal Jose Cobo said in an interview with El Pais on Sunday. He noted that many cardinals are from outside Europe and are meeting one another for the first time, making predictions even harder.
Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday during a funeral ceremony that drew an estimated 400,000 mourners, including world leaders and pilgrims, to St. Peter’s Square. On Sunday, crowds continued to visit his marble tomb at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, where he chose to be buried outside the Vatican walls in line with his image as the “pope of the poor.”
Attention now turns to who will succeed him. Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as Francis’s secretary of state, is widely considered a favorite. British bookmakers also place him ahead of contenders such as Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah and Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, are also seen as strong candidates.
While many Catholics have expressed hopes for a pope from Asia or Africa, others emphasize choosing a leader capable of uniting a polarized Church. “We are in a period in which Catholicism is experiencing various polarisations,” said Roberto Regoli, a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. “I don’t imagine it will be a very, very quick conclave.”
General meetings among the cardinals have been underway since Francis’s death to finalize funeral arrangements and discuss the conclave. Their fifth meeting is scheduled for 9:00 am (0700 GMT) Monday, where they are likely to set a conclave date, potentially for May 5 or 6, shortly after the official mourning period ends on May 4.
Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi described the atmosphere among the cardinals as one of “great openness” and “more spiritual than political,” speaking to La Repubblica.
Only 135 of the 252 cardinals are eligible to vote, being under the age of 80. Around 80 percent of these voting cardinals were appointed by Francis himself, although this does not necessarily guarantee they will choose a pope in his mold.
The conclave will be held in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy, with up to four votes per day until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The election process could stretch over several days.
As the Church prepares for a critical decision, many cardinals are calling for a pope with a universal vision. “We need a courageous leader, a bold one, capable of holding the helm of the Church steady even in storms,” said Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga from the Central African Republic.
For the global Catholic community, the hope is not only for continuity but for a leader who can bring stability in an increasingly uncertain world.
