The next Catholic Church leader!
Vatican City, Apr 22 (EFE).-
The passing of Pope Francis has plunged the Catholic world into mourning and triggered the process to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
While a divide between potential progressive and conservative papal candidates has emerged, it is expected that a moderate will be sought among a College of Cardinals more diverse than ever.
Following three foreign popes, the Italian Church is hoping for a compatriot to be elected the next pontiff, or at least one from secular Europe. Fifty-five Italian cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, giving them hefty weighting in the vote.
The new pope will be chosen during the highly secretive gathering of cardinals under the age of 80 who will cast their ballots until one candidate reaches a two-thirds majority, at which time a white smoke signal will let the world know a new pontiff has been chosen.
Here is a list of possible candidates:
Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy
The most frequently mentioned candidate is undoubtedly the city’s current Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, a close ally to the late pontiff and a man of consensus, which could be an important asset. Known to all the cardinals, he is a key diplomat who has brought the Holy See closer to China in recent years, and is well-versed in the Middle East and Latin America after having served as nuncio to Venezuela.
Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy
The top choice for Italian progressives is Matteo Zuppi, current president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and the most aligned with Francis due to his attention to migrants as well as marginalized and disadvantaged groups. He is very close to the powerful lay movement of the Community of Sant’Egidio, has a relatively liberal view of same-sex relationships, and was appointed by Francis two years ago as Vatican peace envoy for Ukraine.
Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, Philippines
The profile of Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, encompasses some of the characteristics that could convince the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. A man of the Curia, he would be the first pope from Asia, the region with the fastest-growing Catholic population. Although considered liberal-leaning, he has harshly criticized a Philippine bill on reproductive health and has spoken out against abortion and euthanasia.
Jean-Marc Aveline, 66, France
The Archbishop of Marseille, Jean-Marc Aveline has gained strength in recent years, especially after convincing Pope Francis to visit the French city to discuss migration. He is seen as affable and cultured, dedicated to issues of the marginalized, interreligious dialogue and migration, a sensitivity also acquired through his childhood in a family belonging to French people repatriated at the end of the Algerian War. His relatively young age could be a disadvantage.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, Italy
Although Italian, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, is the Vatican’s top official on the Middle East, an asset for a pope with an international outlook and who has recently spoken out in defense of Palestinians in Gaza, but who maintains good relations with the Israeli authorities. Considered by many to be too young to be pope and an unknown quantity in some doctrinal positions, what he can communicate in the congregations and the pre-conclave meetings that will take place in the coming days will weigh heavily.
Péter Erdő, 72, Hungary
Archbishop of Budapest Péter Erdő is one of the most important options for the conservative European wing. He grew up under communism, and in 1956 when he was four years old, his family was forced to flee Hungary. Considered a great intellectual, he is staunchly pro-life, opposes optional celibacy for priests, opposes same-sex unions, and defends the values of Christian Europe. His good relationship with the anti-immigration government of Viktor Orbán could be seen as a negative.
Anders Arborelius, 75, Sweden
The Bishop of Stockholm and Sweden’s first cardinal, Anders Arborelius is a convert to Catholicism in a Scandinavian country with an overwhelmingly Protestant population and one of the most secularized societies in the world. He is a staunch defender of Church doctrine, particularly against the possibility of allowing women to be deacons or blessing same-sex couples. Although, like Francis, Arborelius is in favor of welcoming migrants to Europe.
Mario Grech, 68, Malta
Bishop Mario Grech was appointed by Francis to be secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, giving him the opportunity to meet all the cardinals and representatives of the Catholic Church. A traditionalist who has gradually started to embrace more progressive views, he has had to strike a delicate balance between the demands for an open and inclusive Church while also acknowledging conservative concerns, such as those around the LGBT+ community.
Malcolm Ranjith, 77, Sri Lanka
Although Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Ranjith has shown closeness to Francis and fervent concern for the poor, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI and has not been averse to the traditional Latin Mass. With experience in the Curia, where he was secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, he could be the asset of the Global South and is fluent in 10 languages.
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Archbishop of Kinshasa, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, was born in the DRC and is the only African on the Council of Cardinals, the advisory committee created by Pope Francis. Last year, as president of the Symposium of Bishops’ Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, he signed a letter expressing his opposition to the Vatican declaration authorizing priests to bless same-sex unions. In a 2023 interview, Ambongo stated that “Africa is the future of the Church, it’s obvious.”
Peter Turkson, 76, Ghana
The Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast who serves as the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences would be the first Black pope in decades and the first from sub-Saharan Africa. He is former head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has attended the World Economic Forum in Davos multiple times, and spoken out on the climate crisis, poverty and economic justice.
Robert Francis Prevost, 69, United States
The current prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, who advises the pope on appointments and is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, could be an asset for those seeking a man from the Curia as well as well as from the Americas.
Timothy Dolan, 75, United States
Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan, of Irish-American descent, is a theological conservative, firmly opposed to abortion, and a key asset for conservatives, although in recent months he has strongly opposed President Donald Trump’s anti-migrant policies. His name was already mentioned strongly in the previous conclave. EFE ccg-tw
