April 26th 2025.
Only one cardinal can be chosen as the leader of the Catholic Church, and their fate lies in the hands of their fellow colleagues. This important decision comes after the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, setting off a race for the next pontiff.
Today, in the Vatican City, a historic moment unfolded as an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics said goodbye to Pope Francis during his final journey. The pontiff, who was still recovering from illness, was only able to say a few words to the crowds on St. Peter's Square. His coffin was then driven around the Vatican and Rome, allowing thousands of people to bid their final farewell.
After the funeral, the focus shifted to the next Pope. Nine candidates, all men as per the Church's rules, have emerged as frontrunners for the position. They come from diverse backgrounds, politics, and countries, with an average age of 69. Let's take a closer look at some of these potential successors.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a 70-year-old from Italy, is considered the favorite to succeed Pope Francis. He has an impressive diplomatic background and helped broker the US-Cuba thaw in 2014. Parolin is also known for his moderate views and has expressed support for providing weapons to Ukraine for defense.
Another contender is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a 67-year-old from the Philippines. If elected, he would be the first Asian Pope. Tagle is charismatic and has the ability to handle media, but his left-leaning politics may not sit well with the more conservative cardinals.
Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, from Ghana, is known for his charm and multilingual abilities. However, his liberal views on issues such as homosexuality and social justice may not make him a popular choice among some of the more traditional cardinals.
Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, 72, is considered a more conservative option compared to Pope Francis. He grew up under Communist rule and his family escaped an attack on their home, which may have influenced his political views.
At just 45 years old, Ukrainian Cardinal Mykola Bychok is the youngest candidate vying for the top job. He has been speaking out about the plight of his country due to the Russian invasion, and his relatively young age may make him a wildcard choice.
Other potential candidates include Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola, who believes in building ties between Catholicism and Islam, and Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, who has expressed different views than Pope Francis on issues such as same-sex relationships.
Finally, there is American Cardinal Raymond Burke, who has been a vocal critic of Pope Francis and is seen as a traditional voice within the Church. And lastly, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi from Italy, a favorite of Pope Francis, who has faced backlash for his more accepting stance towards the LGBTQ+ community.
As the cardinals gather for their conclave to make this important decision, the world waits in anticipation to see who will be chosen as the next leader of the Catholic Church. Only time will tell who will be the successor to Pope Francis and continue his legacy.
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