Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a period known as sede vacante, which is Latin for “the seat being vacant”.
This triggers the centuries-old process of selecting a new pope.
With no clear frontrunner, attention has turned to a number of high-ranking cardinals considered potential successors to the 266th pontiff, who led the Church from 2013 until his death at age 88.
The selection of a new pope will be decided during a conclave, a secretive gathering of eligible cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.
The process is guided by long-established traditions and rituals, though the outcome is far from predictable.
According to reports by The Telegraph and CNBC, several cardinals have emerged as possible papabili, a term used to describe those considered likely to be elected pope.
The list includes figures from various regions and theological leanings, some closely aligned with Pope Francis’ progressive vision and others representing a more conservative approach.
Here are 10 cardinals being widely mentioned in Western media as likely contenders:
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines)
Tagle holds the title of Cardinal-Bishop of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle (pro hac vice). He also serves as President of the Catholic Biblical Federation, Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, and is actively involved in several Roman Curia departments.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)
Parolin has been the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013 and joined the Council of Cardinals in 2014, the same year he was elevated to cardinal.
Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary)
Erdő has been Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate of Hungary since 2003
Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (USA)
Burke is a prominent conservative figure in the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of St. Louis and Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest court, from 2008 to 2014.
He was also Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta between 2014 and 2023.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy)
Zuppi has been the Archbishop of Bologna since 2015 and previously served as an auxiliary bishop in Rome.
Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk (Netherlands)
Eijk, a former medical doctor and moral theologian, has been Archbishop of Utrecht since 2007 and became a cardinal in 2012.
Cardinal Mario Grech (Malta)
Grech has served as Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops since 2020, playing a pivotal role in the global synodal process.
Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana)
Turkson currently heads the Pontifical Academies of Sciences. He previously led the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and was the first prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development
Cardinal Angelo Scola (Italy)
Scola is a seasoned theologian and philosopher who served as Archbishop of Milan from 2011 to 2017 and Patriarch of Venice before that.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM is an Italian Catholic prelate who has served as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since November 6, 2020.
As 1.3 billion Catholics around the world mourn the death of Pope Francis, they now await news of who will take up the mantle of spiritual leadership.
