On April 21, it was reported that Pope Francis I, who led the Catholic Church for nearly 12 years, has passed away. The day before his death, the pontiff met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance but was in serious condition after suffering from pneumonia.
Francis I became the 266th Pope of Rome, succeeding Benedict XVI — the first pontiff in nearly 600 years to resign due to health reasons.
The procedure for electing a new Pope will begin with a special gathering called a conclave. Only cardinal electors under the age of 80 are allowed to participate. The meeting takes place behind closed doors: none of the participants are allowed to leave until a new pontiff is elected.
Participants are also prohibited from sending or receiving any information — by phone, internet, or any other means. This is to prevent any external influence on the election process.
The conclave can last up to a week or even longer — until a final decision is made. According to Politico and The Independent, the leading contenders for the title of the new Pope include:
Pietro Parolin — 70-year-old Vatican Secretary of State, born in Italy;
Péter Erdő — Cardinal from Hungary;
Luis Antonio Tagle — Filipino cardinal;
Matteo Zuppi — Italian cardinal who served as a peace envoy in Moscow and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
Raymond Leo Burke — U.S. cardinal known for his conservative and traditionalist views.
The new Pope will become the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics around the world.
