By The Business Insider Reporter
Who will be the next pope is a lingering question following demise of Pope Francis earlier today.
Among the potential successors are Ghana’s Peter Turkson, making prospects for Africa to provide the first ever leader of the Catholic Church in the world./But the list of potential successor of the Holly See seat is also made of Luis Tagle of the Philippines and Hungary’s Peter Erdo.
Pope Francis died on Monday morning, the Vatican announced, days after he was discharged from hospital after undergoing treatment for a complex respiratory infection. He was 88 years old.
His death, 12 years after he was declared pope, has prompted renewed questions about who will succeed him as leader of the Catholic Church, one of the oldest and largest religious institutions with up to 1.39 billion followers.
The work of electing new pope falls on the shoulders of College of Cardinals, a team of cardinals comprised of senior Catholic clergy – many appointed by Francis himself.
To be eligible to be elected Pope, one must be baptised, male Roman Catholic. But, notwithstanding, for centuries, the cardinals have exclusively selected someone from their ranks. No outside cardinals, has even been mentioned as a right replacement of a Pope.
There are currently more than 240 cardinals worldwide. They typically hold the title for life.
How is a new pope chosen?
After Pope dies, Cardinals below the age of 80, vote in what is known as the papal conclave. To prevent outside influence, the conclave locks itself in the Sistine Chapel and deliberates on potential successors. They are not allowed out until a Pope has been picked.
While the number of papal electors is typically capped at 120, there are currently 138 eligible voters. Its members cast their votes via secret ballots, a process overseen by nine randomly selected cardinals.
A two-thirds majority is traditionally required to elect the new pope, and voting continues until this threshold is met.
When will the papal conclave start?
It usually happens two or three weeks after the death or resignation of the sitting pope. This allows for a nine-day mourning period and for cardinals to make their way to the Vatican from around the world.
The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, the first pontiff from South America, began just 12 days after the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
The process can take days, weeks or even longer, depending on how divided the cardinals are.
Top candidates
Of the 138 cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave, a total of 110 were appointed by Pope Francis. This group is notably more diverse than previous electors, with a higher representation from Asia, Africa and Latin America, reflecting Francis’s goal of mirroring the Church’s global reach.
The youngest cardinal elector is only 45 years old, a Ukrainian clergyman based in Australia.
Among the African cardinals being discussed are Ghana’s Peter Turkson, the former head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Fridolin Ambongo, archbishop of Kinshasa.
Both are committed conservatives who have been vocal advocates for peace in their respective countries.
Another strong contender is Philippine Cardinal Luis Tagle, the former archbishop of Manila. Like Pope Francis, Tagle emphasises social justice and caring for the poor.
Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo is seen as a leading conservative candidate and could serve as a bridge to Eastern Christians.
The archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Erdo, is a traditionalist who has championed outreach to Orthodox Christians, stressing the “desperate need” for unity between the churches.
Also in the mix is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s secretary of state, whose top diplomatic role ensures he is well known by all cardinals.
Other possible candidates include Italy’s Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, and Malta’s Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, a position that kept him in close contact with Pope Francis.
Transition
During the “sede vacante” (vacant seat) period – when the papal office is unoccupied – a senior cardinal, known as the camerlengo, certifies the pope’s death and temporarily takes charge of the Vatican’s finances and administrative affairs. He does not have the authority to alter Church doctrine or make significant decisions.
The current camerlengo is Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who also serves as the president of the Vatican’s Supreme Court.
