The Catholic Church is now in a period of mourning following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. All eyes are shifting toward the forthcoming conclave tasked with selecting his successor.
The papal conclave, aimed at electing a new pope after the recent passing of Francis, is slated to commence sometime between May 6 and May 12, 2025.
Among the 135 cardinal electors eligible to cast their votes, a striking 109 were appointed by Pope Francis himself, making up nearly 80% of the voting body.
This substantial majority implies that the next pope is likely to either uphold or amplify Francis’s left-leaning direction.
As of April 21, Reuters reports that there are currently 252 cardinals within the Church, with 135 of these being eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave—specifically, those under the age of 80.
Of this group of 135 cardinal electors, 109 were appointed by Pope Francis, while 22 were appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and a mere five by Pope John Paul II.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, did not merely fulfill the role of pope; he actively reshaped the Vatican into a stronghold for global leftist politics.
His papacy was marked by advocacy for open-border immigration policies, alarmist climate rhetoric, and notably ambiguous positions on same-sex relationships and interfaith dialogue. He consistently leveraged his influence to guide the Catholic Church deeper into the labyrinthine world of global politics and social justice activism.
Reporting from has outlined the leading candidates to succeed Francis, whose successor’s election might either solidify his progressive legacy or herald a return to the Church’s foundational doctrines.
Candidates Favoring Globalism and Leftism
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines)
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)
- Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (France)
- Cardinal Mario Grech (Malta)
- Cardinal Juan Jose Omella (Spain)
- Cardinal Joseph Tobin (USA)
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy)
Conservative and Traditionalist Contenders
- Cardinal Wim Eijk (Netherlands)
- Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Congo)
- Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary)
- Cardinal Raymond Burke (USA)
- Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana)
For more information, check out:
Here Are the Leading Contenders to Succeed Pope Francis as Head of the Catholic Church
