Who will be the next pope? Here’s a list of some possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis.

Death of Pope Francis Monday, April 21, the Day after Easter SundayIt started with a Series of traditions That in a few weeks will culminate in a vote for the next Pope.

After Pope Francis is Unkempt On Saturday, his successor will be decided by the cardinal voters of the Catholic Church, a group of some 135 cardinals under 80 years of age, who are expected to begin their conclave In early May to celebrate a secret choice for the next pontiff.

“Each papal conclave is reduced, in a sense, to a referendum on the papacy that has just ended,” said John Allen, an observer of the Vatican and editor of the Catholic News Site “Crux,” he said. Several of the probable friends would represent continuity with the Direction established by Pope FrancisHe said, while others would point out “a change in a slightly more traditional and conservative direction.”

No matter their inclinations, they all said, the cardinal voters will look for someone who can match the stature of Pope Francis on the world stage. “They want, in part, some that may have the same capacity to make it absolutely impossible for the broader world to ignore what the Catholic Church has to say.”

In the last 600 years, since 1378, the cardinals have been chosen for the position, Altheheheligibility extends technically any male Roman Catholic who has been baptized.

Here is the view to some of the cardinals considered possible contenders to become a potato:

Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop or Budapest, Hungary

Cardinal Peter Erdo, a 72 -year -old canon lawyer, is the highest -ranking Catholic leader in a country that is 80% Christian. He is known for his support to the Pope to Orthodox Christians.

Erdo is also on the conservative side of the European cultural division. In migration, a key issue for Hungary, has transmitted a balanced approach, recognizing the right to migrate but also the importance of guaranteeing political stability.

Erdo is considered a traditionalist, but is also respected by the liberals, which could make him a unifying force within the Church.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop or Kinshasa, Democratic Republic or Congo

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, caught the global attention for the main African bishops in the unanimous rejection of “fiducia supplicans”, a statement that the Vatican issued in 2023 Thhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhates People’s blessings In relationships between people of the same sex.

At 65, he is known as a supporter of orthodoxy and defends priestly celibacy and moral teachings of the Church. He is also known as the promoter of social justice and a champion of the poor and without voice, and is Franco in his criticisms of the Congolese government.

Cardinal Mario Grech, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops

Cardinal Mario Grech, 68, is a canon lawyer who has a great influence on how the synods in the church are executed. The supporters have praised him for leading the position in implementation a more consultative and inclusive approach to the Church government.

Grech comes from Malta, which is one of the smallest countries in the world.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is a second in command in the Vatican and a race diplomat that has constantly increased above any turbulence that marks the pontificate.

It is considered a moderate that, if chosen, could repair cracks within the Church. It is also a progressive with a global vision.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch or Jerusalem

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizza Balla, 60, is a pastoral candidate who has spoken in the middle of the Israel-Ahamas war and visited Gaza Puerta to the conflict.

He is a defender of social justice and sees himself as a servant of the people. It is similar to Francis in his concern for migrants, interreligious dialogue and his disdain for clericalism.

Cardinal Luis Tagle de Filipinas

Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, and the pre -prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples, known is the “Francisco Asian” for his missionary spirit, as well as his emphasis on the care of the Pooor and the welcome or cold and getting married again.

He is the former archbishop of Manila, in the Philippines, which is one of the most Catholic countries in the continent of Asia, and studies in the United States for seven years. His choice would indicate a continuation of Francis’s pontificate.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop or Bologna, Italy

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, is the president of the Italian Bishops Conference. He is known as a “street priest” and missionary, and walks a church that listens to the faithful and is willing to modernize. Zuppi are inclusive or the same sex, as well as people or different religions.

Francis chose Zuppi as his envoy to Russia and Ukraine, as well as the West Bank and Beijing, to promote peace.

Cardinal Anders Arborelius, Archbishop or Stockholm

Cardinal Anders Arborelius, 75, was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism at the age of 20. He is the first Cardinal of Scandinavia.

He is also traditionalist about the teaching of the Church on sexual ethics and gender, and has a strong group for the environment.

Arborelius has been an immigration defender in Sweden, asking for dialogue and integration instead of restrictions.

Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix or Quebec

Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Quebec Metropolitan Archbishop, Canada, is 67 years old. At the beginning of his career, he spent years as a missionary and seminary teacher in Colombia.

The temporarily retreating of his duties amid accusations of sexual abuse, which he denied, and returned to his duties last year after an investigation directed by the Church found no evidence of misconduct.