Perhaps Pope Was Waiting for This Easter Sunday.
It was perhaps symbolic that Pope Francis held on until Easter. On Monday morning at 7:35 a.m. local time (05:35 GMT), Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at the age of 88 after a prolonged period of illness.
The news was announced via a statement on the Vatican’s official Telegram channel by Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
During his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis grappled with numerous physical ailments. In recent weeks, his condition worsened significantly. He had been hospitalized for five consecutive weeks due to double pneumonia.
Just a day before his death, the Pope made a brief appearance before hundreds of Catholic pilgrims in an open-air Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Having endured a prolonged hospitalization, Pope Francis had returned to his papal duties, albeit briefly. At 88, he was the oldest pope in the last century. The Catholic Herald had reported that his deteriorating health had raised concerns about his physical capacity and ability to carry out daily responsibilities.
In his 2023 autobiography “Life: My Story Through History”, Pope Francis stated he never considered resigning from the papacy like his predecessor Benedict XVI—a historic move that broke a 600-year tradition, according to The Times.
However, Francis did acknowledge that upon becoming pope in 2013, he signed a declaration agreeing to resign should his health ever prevent him from fulfilling his duties.
While he was still in the hospital, quiet preparations had already begun within the Church for the selection of his successor. The goal, sources say, was to ensure an orderly transition.
The Pope Election Process
The process of selecting a new pope is steeped in centuries-old religious tradition. To make this more accessible, a group of Catholic journalists and researchers have created an online guide that compiles detailed information on all eligible cardinals.
The guide, titled The College of Cardinals Report, has been described by Crux as a “smart and interactive website,” containing detailed profiles on 252 cardinals. It outlines their views on issues such as the appointment of female deacons, the blessing of same-sex unions, and potential reforms to clerical celibacy.
Of these 252 cardinals, 137 are under the age of 80—the age limit for participation in the conclave, the secretive papal election process.
When a pope dies or resigns, all eligible cardinals are summoned to the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. There, they swear an oath of secrecy and are cut off from the outside world. They may discuss the qualifications of potential candidates but open campaigning is strictly forbidden. According to the BBC, despite this restriction, the process remains deeply political in nature.
Voting is conducted by secret ballot. Each cardinal writes the name of his preferred candidate on a paper ballot, which is then placed into a designated urn. A candidate must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected. If the number of voting cardinals is not divisible by three, one additional vote is required. Voting takes place four times daily until the threshold is met.
After each round, ballots are burned, and the color of the smoke signals the outcome to the public. Black smoke indicates no decision has been reached; white smoke means a new pope has been elected.
What Is the Conclave?
According to the Financial Times, the group of cardinals who comprise the conclave is arguably “the most powerful electoral body in the world” in terms of influence.
Pope Francis, the first non-European pope since the 8th century, played a decisive role in shaping the current structure of the conclave. America Magazine reports that a significant portion of the 138 cardinals under 80 were appointed by Francis himself. While the canonical limit is 120 electors, Francis is not the first pontiff to exceed that number.
The College of Cardinals Report notes that most cardinals know little about the papabili—the men considered potential successors to the papacy. Unlike political elections, where candidates are publicly scrutinized for months or years, papal selection remains an opaque process.
A minority of the conclave will consist of curial cardinals—those working in the Vatican bureaucracy who help govern the Church. The majority will be archbishops from around the world serving in their respective dioceses.
America Magazine further notes that Pope Francis revolutionized the composition of the College of Cardinals. He often bypassed traditional metropolitan sees like Los Angeles, Venice, and Milan, opting instead for clergy from remote or underrepresented regions. These choices reflected his pastoral emphasis on outreach to the marginalized and a commitment to the poor.
As a result, the upcoming conclave will look markedly different—less Italian, less European, and less curia-centric. Instead, it will feature greater representation from Asia and Africa.
Whoever the next pope may be, betting agencies currently believe there is a 50 percent chance he will choose the name Francis II. Other possible names include John Paul, Leo, and John.
Who Will Be the Next Pope?
Many Catholic scholars argue that public speculation about the next pope is inappropriate. Yet realistically, attention inevitably gravitates toward the most likely papabili—a term in Italian referring to those believed to be viable candidates.
These potential successors come from diverse backgrounds and hold differing theological perspectives. Whoever is chosen may profoundly influence the future direction of the Catholic Church.
Still, the process remains shrouded in uncertainty. Cardinals are secluded for days, making decisions through prayer and ballots. U.S. Catholic notes that any predictions should be made with caution, as the electors pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit—who, it is said, often “delivers surprising outcomes.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Italy
At 70, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State under Pope Francis, is widely considered the leading candidate. He is known as a skilled and seasoned Vatican diplomat, having played pivotal roles in re-establishing U.S.-Cuba relations and negotiating the 2018 Vatican-China agreement.
U.S. Catholic suggests that in today’s volatile geopolitical climate, the conclave may favor a diplomatic figure. The Spectator’s Damian Thompson notes that Parolin has managed to navigate 11 years of the Pope’s often unpredictable administrative reshuffles. He is seen as a moderate who could mend divisions caused by Pope Francis’s more emotional rhetoric and polarizing actions.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Philippines
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, from the Philippines, has long been a favorite among Vatican observers and betting agencies. U.S. Catholic describes him as “media-savvy, charismatic, and joyful.” If elected, he would become the first Asian pope in history and perhaps the first fluent English-speaking pontiff since Adrian IV, who served in the 1150s.
According to The College of Cardinals Report Tagle is known for his emotional transparency and down-to-earth demeanor. His political views align closely with Pope Francis’s progressive agenda focused on social justice.
Cardinal Peter Turkson, Ghana
At 76, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana is a multilingual biblical scholar known for his quiet demeanor and refined intellect. He has long been mentioned as a papal contender. However, his relatively liberal views on homosexuality, climate change, and social equity have placed him at odds with both fellow cardinals and some bishops in his own country.
Given the rapid growth of the Catholic population in Africa, interest in an African pope is high. Nevertheless, Turkson is not universally seen as a unifying figure.
Cardinal Péter Erdő, Hungary
Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, 72, is an award-winning scholar and intellectual. Compared to Pope Francis, he is more conservative and, according to the U.S. Catholic, a “compromise candidate.” He grew up under Communist rule; his family fled with only the clothes on their backs after Soviet troops burned their home in 1956.
Today, he leads Hungary’s Church at a time when the country is shifting from democracy toward authoritarianism—a context in which his leadership skills may be especially relevant.
Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Ukraine
At 45, Cardinal Mykola Bychok is the Eparch of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Australia. Appointed a cardinal just last year by Pope Francis, Bychok has spoken with passionate eloquence about the suffering of Ukrainians during the ongoing war with Russia.
Many of his followers in Australia are Greek Catholic refugees from the Balkans or those displaced by the conflict with Russia that began in 2014. Despite his relatively young age, both history and perhaps Pope Francis himself suggest that he may not be “too young” for the Throne of St. Peter.