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Global
April 24, 2025 Who might become the next head of the Catholic Church? The favourites: Cardinal Parolin, the secretary of state for the Vatican. He is now considered the main candidate, a strong favourite to be the next Pope but not a certainty. As the Vatican’s secretary of state since 2013, 70-year-old Cardinal Parolin, from Veneto, is the highest-ranking member of the electing conclave. Rather than adhering to “left” or “right” political leanings, Cardinal Parolin has long been considered a sensible, moderate figure within the Church. Most recently, Cardinal Parolin gave an interview with Italian newspaper L’Eco di Bergamo in which he commented on a number of geopolitical issues. He said: Everyone can contribute to peace, but solutions must never be pursued through unilateral impositions that risk trampling on the rights of entire peoples, otherwise there will never be a just and lasting peace. It is hard to know if he really is the main candidate because the group of cardinals are very difficult to read, a well placed Vatican insider told. They are a very strange bunch and they don’t really know one another. What they see as a good candidate may be very different to what the media say. Parolin is a very safe bet because they all know him. He was nice to everyone and ’never had conflicts with anyone’. He has been working in the Vatican for more than 10 years and knows how it works. Cardinal Erdő was made a cardinal in 2003 by Pope John Paul II. As a former president of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, Cardinal Erdő is known for being a devout Marian, meaning he devotes his practices to 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 conclave votes. The 72-year-old Hungarian has famously been a more conservative voice within the Church, having opposed the practice of divorced or remarried Catholics receiving Holy Communion due to his belief in the insolubility of marriage. He has also compared the act of taking in refugees to human trafficking. Cardinal Tagle has shared his support for gay people. As the seventh Filipino to become a cardinal, Cardinal Tagle would be the first Asian pope. The 67-year-old currently serves as the pro-prefect for the Section of First Evangelisation of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, having been made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. He is the most liberal candidate among the frontrunners and often dubbed Francis 2 in his similarities to the late Pope. Cardinal Tagle has typically shown more left-leaning politics, similar to those of Pope Francis, and has criticised the Church’s attitude and language towards gay people, unmarried mothers, and divorced or remarried Catholics. The harsh words that were used in the past to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers [and so on], in the past they were quite severe, he said in 2015. And: Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society. However, some Vatican insiders question whether he is a candidate who is more prominent in media coverage with less real support among cardinals who will ultimately decide. Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is only 60 and much younger than all the other contenders but has gone from a left field option in the conclave to one of the favourites. It may be by the time the conclave begins that he has become one of the more serious contenders. Essentially, it his role as leader of the Catholics in the Holy Land at a time when Middle East events in Israel and Gaza are at the forefront of world and Church politics. Choosing Pizzaballa would be a significant geopolitical statement by the Church, especially at a time it has been highly critical of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. However, Pizzaballa has not taken sides as others have done. He was one of the first to condemn Hamas for the 7 October attacks on Israel and offered himself in exchange for Israeli children taken as hostages by the Palestinian terrorists. As well as being a heroic figure with a keen ability as a diplomat he is also a leading Biblical scholar. Pope Francis was known to highly respect him and called him almost daily. He will almost certainly get votes in the conclave and if he does not emerge this time because of his relatively young age he will be a contender again in the future. Strong contenders: Cardinal Zuppi was made a cardinal by Francis in 2019. The 69-year-old has since been sent on a number of global trips. He went on a peace mission to Ukraine where he met Zelensky, but not Russia’s Putin and he went to the United States to meet the then president Biden. Prior to being a cardinal, Mr Zuppi shared his positive view of the LGBT+ community when he wrote in an essay in Martin’s 2018 book Building a Bridge (Un ponte da Costruire) that it would be useful for encouraging dialogue, as well as reciprocal knowledge and understanding "to adopt a new pastoral approach towards our LGBT brothers and sisters. Considered to be a favourite of Pope Francis, Cardinal Zuppi has been president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022. Cardinal Burke has been described as a voice of traditionalism within the Church. Regarded by critics as an outspoken traditionalist, Cardinal Burke, born in Wisconsin, was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. He has publicly clashed with Pope Francis’s more liberal philosophies, particularly regarding the latter’s willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. He has also called the Church’s new language around artificial contraception, civil marriage and gay people objectionable. He previously said that Catholic politicians who support legalised abortion, such as Mr Biden, should not receive the Eucharist. Cardinal Grech is former conservative. The Maltese Cardinal Grech has emerged as probably the most progressive option for the conclave to consider. The 68-year-old is the the one leading Church figure to attempt to reach out to LGBT+ communities and reconsider doctrine on a complex issue. Speaking to the Synod in October 2014, Grech said that the doctrine of the faith is capable of progressively acquiring a greater depth and that addressing people in complex familial relations, or homosexuals or parents of homosexuals, it is necessary to learn to speak that language which is known to contemporary human beings and who acknowledge it as a way of conveying the truth and the charity of the Gospel. A favourite of Pope Francis’, Grech was appointed to the influential role of Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. Cardinal Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille is a name that have gathered traction and apparently some support. While he was not previously described as papabile, he has emerged as a serious contender among moderates since Pope Francis’ death. The 66-year-old French prelate originates from the old French Algeria colony but spent much of his life in Marseille. The cardinal has been described as a rather liberal figure, but one inclined to consensus by the College of Cardinals Report website. It makes him a candidate who could potentially reach out to the different factions. Cardinal Aveline has also regularly been portrayed in the French press as Pope Francis’ favorite prelate, and is said to be the most Bergoglian - in reference to Francis’ surname - of France’s bishops. Out of Africa: Cardinal Turkson, the Ghanaian prelate, 76, has emerged as one of the leading papabile in recent months and would be the first African pope since Pope Gelasius I in the fifth century. Cardinal Turkson was a candidate in 2013, but now has more support than when Pope Francis was elected in the last conclave. With Catholicism growing in Africa and declining in European and other Western countries, there is a feeling that its centre of gravity is shifting to the developing world. Cardinal Turkson is politically on the left, and has led for the Church on social justice issues, been a critic of neoliberal capitalism and worked for peace. Theologically he is very conservative, and was a leading voice against the use of condoms despite the Aids pandemic in Africa. He also defended a more hardline view on homosexuality. Cardinal Sarah of Guinea is another African papabile. The 79-year-old conservative was an ally of the previous pope, Benedict, and served as his president of the Pontifical Council. Cardinal Sarah has been a leading player in the Vatican since 2001, and carries a lot of experience through various roles in the Church’s institutions. Some thought that his best opportunity came in 2013, when Pope Francis emerged as the choice of the cardinals instead. Cardinal Sarah is a traditionalist and a conservative, who has suggested that some of the reforms brought in by the Second Vatican Council to modernise the Church in the 1960s are not obligatory. He is very anti-LGBT+ and has opposed attempts to recognise homosexuality in various African countries. One of his strengths is that he has a deeper understanding and respect for Islam, as a cardinal from a country where the population is divided between the two religions. He has opposed attacks by the West on Muslim countries such as Iraq. He once noted: The Islam in my country is a fraternal, peaceful religion. Cardinal Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa and head of the Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo is completing the African contingent. At 65 he is one of the younger papabile but is a name rising on various lists as a possible successor to Francis. Besunga has played a key role in the spread of Catholicism in Africa and won admirers for standing up to the DRC government who ordered for him to be investigated for sedition. Like the other African cardinals he is a conservative and hit international prominence with his opposition to blessings of same sex unions. Also in the running: Cardinal Marx, 71, Archbishop of Munich and Freising. He is a divisive figure who, like his namesake Karl, is a strong critic of capitalism. From many years he was a strong ally of Pope Francis from the liberal wing of the church and has been much more progressive on LGBT+ issues than most. However, he was removed Francis’ council of cardinals in May 2023, falling out of favour having been a key adviser. Added to that in 2021 he offered his resignation for failing to deal with historic abuse in the Church, although this was rejected at the time. Cardinal Marx has not been afraid of getting involved in politics and even criticised Brexit even though he insisted the 2016 vote should be respected. He has experience with the inner workings of the Vatican not least its finances having been on the Council for the Economy when the Holy See had a deficit. He has been a prominent figure at international events including presiding over the funeral of former German football captain and manager Beckenbauer. In many ways he is the Pope most likely to bring the Church into the 21st century but one whose time may have passed. Cardinal Scola, the former Archbishop of Milan is the leading name of four Italian cardinals who are seen as potential stop gap candidates if the conclave’s factions cannot come to agreement over the leading contenders. At 83 Scola would be the oldest cardinal elected as Pope since Clement X in 1670 and it would be hoped he could provide steady but uncontroversial leadership to give the church breathing space to decide which direction to take in the future. However, last time cardinals took this safe stop gap option they elected the 77-year-old John XXIII in 1958 who turned out to be one of the most radical and consequential popes in history. He launched the Second Vatican Council to modernise the church and changing Catholicism forever. Cardinal Eijk, the Archbishop of Utrecht, 71, has been one of the biggest conservative critics of Pope Francis’ papacy. A Dutch medical doctor by training he is unusual among the cardinals in having a scientific background but has been a fierce opponent of LGBT+ rights. In 2015 he came to public attention for removing a parish treasurer from their position because they were transgender. He was also highly critical of ecumenical attempts to reach out to other Christian denominations. In 2018 he condemned Pope Francis for failing to completely rule out a German proposal to allow Protestants to take the eucharist. Cardinal Prevost, 69, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishop. While many observers think that cardinals will revert to a European Pope after the Francis experiment, if they do go back to the Americas then he will be a name who is discussed. Cardinal Prevost hails from Chicago which is the biggest Archdiocese in North America and famously turns the river green on St Patrick’s day. He was only promoted to his influential role in the Vatican in 2023 and made a cardinal-bishop in February this year. A member of the influential Augustinian order his main appeal may be that he is an expert in canon law. There have been concerns over Francis that the Church moved away from a reliance on canon law and the traditional institutions. This makes Prevost a compromise candidate for Francis inspired reformers and those who want some traditional order restored. Cardinal Schönborn, 80, Archbishop emeritus of Vienna. He has just retired from his roles and will not get a vote in the conclave because of his age. Nevertheless as a figure who was respected across the different factions Cardinal Schönborn may be a name still in contention. Most of all he won respect for being one of the stronger voices in dealing with the historic sexual abuse in the Church. In May 2010 Schönborn told the Austrian Catholic news agency Kathpress: The days of cover-up are over. For a long while the Church's principle of forgiveness was falsely interpreted and was in favour of those responsible and not the victims. He has though been a strong opponent to Church reform not least in his fight with a dissident priest movement in Austria which was made up of around 10 per cent of its priests and demanded radical changes. This included allowing priests to marry, as well as allowing divorced Catholics and non-Catholic Christians to receive communion. Despite meeting with the group known as Pfarrer Initiative in June 2012 the Austrian prelate publicly reaffirmed the official position of the Vatican on the issues raised by the dissident group and directed that no priest expressing support for the Call to Disobedience be allowed to hold any administrative post in the Austrian Catholic Church. Cardinal Ouellet, the Canadian cardinal from Quebec, speaks seven languages fluently. At 80, he is now too old to vote in the conclave, although he remains a candidate for the papacy. Cardinal Ouellet’s hopes, though, have been hit by allegations that emerged in August 2022, when a lawsuit involving an unnamed woman was filed against him. Prior to that he had been one of the leading voices for change in the Church in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving priests. In 2018, he said: We will need more participation of women in the formation of priests, in teaching, in the discernment of candidates and their emotional balance. Cardinal Nichols, 79, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales since 2009. He is just young enough to vote in this conclave because he does not turn 80 until November. Cardinal Nichols is seen as a steady, middle-of-the-road candidate, and could potentially emerge as a compromise figure if there is a standoff between the factions within the conclave. The English cardinal, originally from Crosby in Lancashire, would be the first British pope since Adrian IV in 1154. He has carefully picked his battles on social issues in the UK, steering clear of interventions in the LGBT+ debates, but has launched a strong fight against the assisted dying bill currently being debated in parliament. That said, he has not been named as one of the papabile, and would be a longshot for the throne of St Peter. Nevertheless, non-papabile have been elected Pope on eight occasions, including John XXIII, who initiated the Second Vatican Council, and John Paul II. Cardinal Radcliffe, 79, a Dominican friar, who is much loved by many Catholics for his spiritual writings. He was a frequent adviser to Pope Francis. He was only made a cardinal in October last year and is a Master Emeritus of Order of Preachers. Like Nichols he is highly unlikely to win any votes in the conclave but cannot be completely ruled out. Cardinal Roche, 74, is the youngest of the British cardinals. The former bishop of Leeds now heads up a Vatican department called Divine Worship where he has become a controversial figure blamed for the suppression of the traditional Latin mass. Roche is a Vatican reformer who was close to Francis and is more likely to be an influencer in the election than a candidate. Cardinal Fitzgerald was much respected by Pope Francis for his work on interfaith dialogue especially with Muslims. He is a highly experienced diplomat. However, at 87 he will not have a vote in the conclave and will be considered to be too old to succeed Francis. The stand-in: Cardinal Farrell, an Irish born American who announced Pope Francis’ death to the world, currently is effectively standing in as temporary administrative head of the church in his role as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. The 77-year-old cannot be completely ruled out as a successor but he is not considered to be a papabile and there are a long list of contenders ahead of him. Added to that his conservative views have not seen him shy away from diplomatic controversy. In 2018 he prevented the then Irish president McAleese, a supporter of women's ordination and same-sex marriage, from speaking at a Vatican conference on Women in the Catholic Church. (Source: Independent - United Kingdom)
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