Pope Francis died early on Easter Monday, April 21, creating a vacancy in the role he has held for the past decade since his election in 2013.
Following his death, a conclave an assembly of cardinals for the election of a pope is likely to meet within the following 15 to 20 days to select his successor.
This timeframe will allow for burial services, a nine-day period of mourning known as the novemdiales, as well as time for cardinals from throughout the world to travel to Vatican City.
A College of Cardinals will conduct the election behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel, governed by a mix of traditional, theological, and political concerns.
The College of Cardinals, made up of individuals under the age of 80, will vote by secret ballot, with a two-thirds majority required to elect a new pope.
If no consensus is found, successive rounds of voting will be held until a new pope is elected.Vatican insiders have revealed some of the leading prospects to succeed the 266th pope, including the possibility of the first African pope and a Filipino cardinal affectionately nicknamed the “Asian Pope Francis“.
Peter Turkson
The Ghanaian national is vying to become Africa’s most recent pope. His current betting odds are 5:1.
Turkson, 76, is the former head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. He is well-known in the church’s social justice circles as an advocate for climate change, poverty, and economic fairness.
The Catholic Church was last governed by a Black pope between 492 and 496 AD, when Pope Gelasius, born to African parents in Rome, ruled as the 49th pope.
Luis Antonio TagleTagle, 67, is the betting market’s favourite to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, with odds of 3:1. The Filipino cardinal is likely to continue Pope Francis’ inclusive approach.
He was a trusted member of Francis’ inner circle, known for his advocacy of inclusivity and evangelism.
His Asian origin may potentially affect his election, as the Catholic Church has expanded across the continent and beyond Europe into Asia.
He is also affectionately regarded as the Asian Pope Francis, which clearly reflects how he is perceived in church circles.
Pietro Parolin Parolin is a 70-year-old Italian who has served as the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013. His 4:1 odds of winning the race are mostly supported by his experience in this position, which has given him experience outside of religious matters.
He has played a key role in Vatican City’s diplomatic issues, including crucial negotiations with China and Middle Eastern states. Parolin’s bureaucratic experience is bolstered by his status as a moderate theological candidate, regarded as one of the candidates capable of carrying on Pope Francis’ legacy.
Pete Erdő
This Hungarian contender is one of numerous Europeans running in this year’s papal election. At 72, he is a respected canon law scholar and a staunch supporter of traditional Catholic teachings and doctrine, which may represent a departure from Pope Francis’ views.
Erdő may appeal to Catholics who support the conservative beliefs of past popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. He presently has odds of 6:1 in the betting markets.
Angelo ScolaScola, 82, is the oldest competitor on the top five list.He was a frontrunner before the conclave, but he lost to Pope Francis in 2013.
He is of Italian descent and a former Archbishop of Milan with extensive theological background. His stance, similar to Erdő’s, favors a centralized and hierarchical church structure.
His 8:1 odds are primarily due to his senior age and his opinions, which are in sharp contrast to Pope Francis’ more liberal ones.
