Who will be the next pope? Here’s a list of some possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis.

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Death of Pope Francis Monday, the Day after Easter SundayIt started with a Series of traditions That in a few weeks will culminate in a vote for the next Pope.

After Pope Francis is UnkemptThe successor will be decided by the cardinal voters of the Catholic Church, a group of about 135 cardinals under 80 years of age, which are expected to begin early conclave to celebrate a secret election for the next pontiff.

In the last 600 years, since 1378, the cardinals have been chosen for the position, Altheheheligibility extends technically any male Roman Catholic who has been baptized.

Here is the view to some of the cardinals considered possible contenders to become a potato:

Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop or Budapest, Hungary

Cardinal Peter Erdo, a 72 -year -old canon lawyer, is the highest -ranking Catholic leader in a country that is 80% Christian. He is known for his support to the Pope to Orthodox Christians.

Pope Francis greets Archbishop or Cardinal of Budapest Peter Erdo

Pope Francis greets the archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Peter Erdo, on April 28, 2023, when he arrived for a papal visit to Budapest, Hungary.

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Erdo is also on the conservative side of the European cultural division. In migration, a key issue for Hungary, has transmitted a balanced approach, recognizing the right to migrate but also the importance of guaranteeing political stability.

Erdo is considered a traditionalist, but is also respected by the liberals, which could make him a unifying force within the Church.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop or Kinshasa, Democratic Republic or Congo

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, caught the global attention for the main African bishops in the unanimous rejection of “fiducia supplicans”, a statement that the Vatican issued in 2023 Thhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhates People’s blessings In relationships between people of the same sex.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu after the ceremony for his appointment for Pope Francis on October 5, 2019 in the Vatican

Tiziana Fabi/AFP through Getty Images


At 65, he is known as a supporter of orthodoxy and defends priestly celibacy and moral teachings of the Church. He is also known as the promoter of social justice and a champion of the poor and without voice, and is Franco in his criticisms of the Congolese government.

Cardinal Mario Grech, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops

Cardinal Mario Grech, 68, is a canon lawyer who has a great influence on how the synods in the church are executed. The supporters have praised him for leading the position in implementation a more consultative and inclusive approach to the Church government.

Cardinal Mario Grech

Cardinal Mario Grech, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, attends a Holy Mass in the Basilica of San Pedro on October 29, 2023.

Tiziana Fabi/AFP through Getty Images


Grech comes from Malta, which is one of the smallest countries in the world.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is a second in command in the Vatican and a race diplomat that has constantly increased above any turbulence that marks the pontificate.

Secretary of State of Vatican Cardenal Pietro Parolin

Secretary of State of Vatican Cardinal Pietro Parolin Mass presides in 20 years as the death of Pope San Juan Paul II in the Basilica of San Pedro on April 2, 2025,

Simone Risoluti / Getty Images


It is considered a moderate that, if chosen, could repair cracks within the Church. It is also a progressive with a global vision.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch or Jerusalem

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizza Balla, 60, is a pastoral candidate who has spoken in the middle of the Israel-Ahamas war and visited Gaza Puerta to the conflict.

Jordan-Christianiate-Colm

Patriarch Latin or Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on the right, pronounces a speech as Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin looks at the dedication of the Church of the Baptism of the Lord in Al-Maghtas in Jordan on January 10, 2025.

Khalil Mazraawi/AFP through Getty Images


He is a defender of social justice and sees himself as a servant of the people. It is similar to Francis in his concern for migrants, interreligious dialogue and his disdain for clericalism.

Cardinal Luis Tagle de Filipinas

Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, and the pre-prefect for the congregation for the evangelization of the peoples, known is the “Francisco Asia” for his missionary spirit, as well as his emphasis on the care of the Pooor and the welcome or cold and re-married.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle attends the solemn liturgy of the Lord’s passion on Good Friday in the Basilica of San Pedro on April 18, 2025 in the city of the Vatican.

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He is the former archbishop of Manila, in the Philippines, which is one of the most Catholic countries in the continent of Asia, and studies in the United States for seven years. His choice would indicate a continuation of Francis’s pontificate.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop or Bologna, Italy

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, is the president of the Italian Bishops Conference. He is known as a “street priest” and missionary, and walks a church that listens to the faithful and is willing to modernize. Zuppi are inclusive or the same sex, as well as people or different religions.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zupp

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi attends the opening of the dough for the Synod of Bishops, chaired by Pope Francis, in the Plaza de San Pedro on October 2, 2024.

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Francis chose Zuppi as his envoy to Russia and Ukraine, as well as the West Bank and Beijing, to promote peace.

Cardinal Anders Arborelius, Archbishop or Stockholm

Cardinal Anders Arborelius, 75, was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism at the age of 20. He is the first Cardinal of Scandinavia.

He is also traditionalist about the teaching of the Church on sexual ethics and gender, and has a strong group for the environment.

Cardinal Anders Arborelius

Cardinal Anders Arborelius leaves the altar after receiving the Biretta of Pope Francis a ceremony raising 5 new cardinals in the Basilica of San Pedro, June 28, 2017.

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Arborelius has been an immigration defender in Sweden, asking for dialogue and integration instead of restrictions.

Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix or Quebec

Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Quebec Metropolitan Archbishop, Canada, is 67 years old. At the beginning of his career, he spent years as a missionary and seminary teacher in Colombia.

Cardenal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix

Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix in a ceremony for the creation of new cardinals in the Basilica of San Pedro on February 22, 2014.

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty images


The temporarily retreating of his duties amid accusations of sexual abuse, which he denied, and returned to his duties last year after an investigation directed by the Church found no evidence of misconduct.

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