Potential Successors for Pope Francis: Analyzing the Leading Candidates to Assume Pontiff Role
The imminent gathering, referred to as the conclave, will see 133 cardinals from 71 countries, all under 80 - the upper age limit for voting - occupy the Sistine Chapel to elect the new pope. The new head of the Catholic Church, shepherd to the world's 1.4 billion faithful Catholic followers, will succeed the charismatic and influential Pope Francis.
Theoretically, any baptized male Catholic could ascend to the papacy; however, the last non-cardinal to be elected was Pope Urban VI in 1378. As the Vatican maintains tight-lipped silence regarding any official list of candidates and forbids campaigning, speculation about who'll emerge as the successor to Pope Francis remains just that—speculation.
Across the globe, leaders and faithful pay tribute to "everyone's pope," a title befitting Pope Francis's extraordinary influence. Known for breaking barriers and addressing pressing issues, he paved the way for groundbreaking papal firsts—the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the Southern Hemisphere. Many now wonder if another first—perhaps the first African pope or the first French pope since Pope Gregory XI—will follow in his footsteps.
Several contenders, known unofficially as the "papabili," are hotly tipped as potential successors to Pope Francis. In this article, we delve into the prominent figures and their distinctive qualities that could make them the new face of the Catholic Church.
Europe
Front-runners in Europe include:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin (age 70): The current Vatican Secretary of State, Parolin acts as the deputy pope and is renowned for his diplomatic finesse, global outlook, sense of humor, and deep understanding of the Roman Curia, the Holy See's central government.
- Pierbattista Pizzaballa (age 60): A Franciscan with an impressive background, Pizzaballa's relatively young age might work against him in the conclave.
- Matteo Maria Zuppi (age 70): The Archbishop of Bologna and enthusiastic cyclist, Zuppi is admired for his work on behalf of the marginalized and his advocacy of welcoming migrants and gay Catholics into the Church.
- Claudio Gugerotti (age 69): A scholar born in Verona, Gugerotti boasts a wealth of multilingual diplomatic experience. He has served as ambassador to Eastern countries like Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Ukraine.
France
Representing French hopes is:
- Jean-Marc Aveline (age 66): The Archbishop of Marseille, Aveline is well-known for his support of migrants and interfaith dialogue, and his talent for building bridges between diverse communities. He holds a doctorate in theology and is respected by Pope Francis.
Sweden
- Anders Arborelius (age 75): Unique among the contenders, Arborelius is a convert to Catholicism and the first Swedish Catholic bishop since the Reformation. He advocates a welcoming approach to migrants and serves as a bridge between the Catholic and Protestant traditions.
Sweden, Malta, and Luxembourg
- Mario Grech (age 68): Born in a small village on Malta, Grech is known as a peace broker who served as secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, which gathers information from local churches on various Church issues and provides recommendations to the pope.
- Jean-Claude Hollerich (age 66): The Archbishop of Luxembourg, Hollerich spent over 20 years in Japan and has extensive experience in European-Asian cultural relations. Firm on doctrine while open to adaptability, he has been a champion of laypeople and young people embracing the Church.
Africa
- Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (age 76): A multi-lingual Ghanaian cardinal, Turkson is known for his support of welcoming migrants and progressive views on social justice matters, such as worker rights. He has faced criticism for defending Catholic sexual morality but opposing the criminalization of gay relationships in some African countries.
- Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (age 65): The Archbishop of Kinshasa, Besungu is known for his strong, conservative views on homosexuality and sexuality, as well as his emphasis on addressing conflicts plaguing the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Robert Sarah (age 79): A traditionalist from Guinea, Sarah is known for his commitment to traditional liturgy and doctrine and his opposition to Pope Francis's reforms. He has been advocated by conservative Catholics who hope he will revert the Church to pre-Francis times.
Asia
- Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle (age 67): A popular Filipino cardinal, Tagle has gained popularity for his karaoke singing and his commitment to promoting the interests of migrants, the poor, and marginalized. He has been vocal in addressing the Catholic Church's shortcomings, particularly in the area of sexual abuse of minors.
In the coming days and weeks, the eyes of the world will be glued to the Sistine Chapel as the cardinals gather to elect the new pope. The crowd's curiosity is piqued by the speculation about who will become the next leader of the Catholic Church, closing the chapter on Pope Francis's tenure and opening a new chapter of hope and progress.
The upcoming conclave, a gathering of 133 cardinals from 71 countries, is sparking worldwide anticipation. These cardinals, all under the age limit of 80, will occupy the Sistine Chapel to elect the new pope, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholic followers.
The successor to Pope Francis, known for his extraordinary influence, may break more groundbreaking records—perhaps the first African pope, the first French pope since Pope Gregory XI, or even the first from Hungary, Algeria, or Sudan.
Several potential candidates, known as the "papabili," have emerged. In Europe, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pierrebattista Pizzaballa, Matteo Maria Zuppi, and Claudio Gugerotti are being closely watched. Cardinal Parolin, the current Vatican Secretary of State, is renowned for his diplomatic finesse, while Pizzaballa, a Franciscan, has an impressive background. Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna, is admired for his work with the marginalized, and Gugerotti, a scholar from Verona, has extensive diplomatic experience.
From France, Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille, is seen as a strong contender, known for his support of migrants and interfaith dialogue. Anders Arborelius, a convert to Catholicism and the first Swedish Catholic bishop since the Reformation, is a unique front-runner.
Mario Grech, a peace broker and secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, is being eyed from Sweden, Malta, and Luxembourg. Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Archbishop of Luxembourg, has extensive experience in European-Asian cultural relations and has been a champion of laypeople and young people joining the Church.
On the African continent, Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, and Robert Sarah are potentially the next popes. Turkson, from Ghana, is known for his progressive views on social justice matters, while Besungu, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasizes addressing conflicts in his country. Sarah, a traditionalist from Guinea, is known for his commitment to traditional liturgy and doctrine.
In Asia, Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, a popular Filipino cardinal, is being watched for his advocacy of migrants, the poor, and marginalized. The eyes of the world will be fixated on the Sistine Chapel as the cardinals gather to elect the new pope, with speculation about who will lead the Catholic Church in the post-Francis era fueling global curiosity.
