Following the service, attention will turn to who will be elected as the next Pope
On Saturday (April 26) the funeral of Pope Francis took place in Rome, with world leaders from across the globe gathering to celebrate the life of the pontiff.
World leaders gathered to pay their respects at the service in Rome, including US President Donald Trump, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of France Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starmer.
Trump was joined by his wife and First Lady, Melania, and the royal family’s Prince William was also in attendance for the proceedings.
Following the service, attention will turn to what happens next, and specifically, who will be elected as the next Pope.
How Is a New Pope Chosen?
The next Pope will be elected by the College of Cardinals, a group of senior Catholic leaders.
They gather for a papal conclave, a highly secretive process held in the Sistine Chapel, where they cast their votes up to four times a day in private ballots.
While there are more than 240 cardinals worldwide, the number of papal electors is typically limited to 120. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, though they retain their title for life.
The conclave usually begins after a traditional two-week mourning period.
Technically, any baptized Catholic man can be elected Pope, but in practice, the choice almost always comes from among the cardinals.
After each round of voting, the ballots are burned, and chemicals are added to produce either black or white smoke.
If black smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, it signals that no Pope has been elected yet.
White smoke, however, means a successful vote a new Pope has been chosen.
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the entire process typically takes between 15 and 20 days, as reported by The Independent.
While the conclave is highly secretive, there are often several names rumored to be in contention for the role.
Who Are the Leading Candidates to Become the Next Pope?
Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke
An American prelate, Cardinal Burke holds the titles of both bishop and cardinal.
While Pope Francis has moved the Church toward greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, Burke is known for his strong opposition to such changes.
Cardinal Péter Erdő
The Hungarian cardinal is considered one of the leading conservative candidates.
According to The College of Cardinals report, “His emphasis on unity and his role as a bridge between East and West have solidified his standing as a significant Church leader.”
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça
A Portuguese prelate, Cardinal Mendonça was elevated to cardinal in October 2019.
Since 2020, he has been a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic and currently serves as Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology, a role he assumed in September 2022.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Italy’s Cardinal Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, is seen as a close ally of Pope Francis.
He has held the Vatican’s top diplomatic role since 2013. According to The College of Cardinals report, he “sensed a call to the priesthood at a very early age and entered the seminary in Vicenza when he was just fourteen.”
Other Leading Contenders for the Papacy
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
An Italian prelate, Cardinal Pizzaballa has served as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since November 2020.
He is known for his rejection of clericalism and his strong support for migrants, interreligious dialogue, and environmental concerns. While he believes the Church should be open to everyone, he emphasizes that “faith must always be the starting point.”
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero
Currently the Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco, Cardinal López Romero has held the position since March 2018.
Much of his ministry has focused on advocating for the rights and wellbeing of migrants.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
A Filipino prelate, Cardinal Tagle previously served as Archbishop of Manila from 2011 to 2020.
Since June 2022, he has been serving as Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelization at the Dicastery for Evangelization and has also chaired the Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious since 2019.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi
The Archbishop of Bologna since 2015, Cardinal Zuppi was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2019 and has served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022.
He played a major role in ending Mozambique’s civil war in 1992 and was recently sent by Pope Francis on diplomatic missions to Kyiv and Moscow to help foster peace amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
