TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The conclave to elect the successor of Pope Francis, who passed away last month, as the leader of the Vatican Holy See, commenced on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Cardinals from all over the world have gathered to hold a series of congregations to discuss what kind of new Pope they are looking for.
Based on records on the official Vatican website, there are about 135 cardinals worldwide under 80 years old who are eligible to elect and be elected as the new Pope. From Indonesia, Jakarta Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo is among those with the opportunity to become the Pope.
So, who are the strong contenders to become the next Pope?
1. Cardinal Luis 'Chito' Antonio Tagle
Some observers believe that the future leadership of the church lies outside the Italian cardinal class. Tagle, 67, from the Philippines, may be suitable for cardinals seeking a non-European Pope. The Philippines is the country with the highest percentage of Catholics in the world, with 80 percent of its 100 million population being Catholic. If elected, Tagle will become the first Asian pope in recent history.
Ordained as a cardinal in 2012 by Pope Benedict, Tagle is currently leading the church's evangelization program from the Vatican. As the former Archbishop of Manila, Tagle is popularly referred to as the 'Asian Francis'. Miles Pattenden, a historian at the University of Oxford, told Al Jazeera, that his leadership style is similar to the pastoral approach of the late Pope Francis.
Despite his stance of opposing abortion, Tagle is dedicated to social justice goals such as migration and poverty, and has advocated for a less harsh attitude towards gay individuals, divorcees, and single mothers. His senior position in the Holy See since 2019 also provided him with Vatican experience.
2. Cardinal Pietro Parolin
An Italian national and the current Secretary of State of the Vatican, Parolin, 70, has a strong chance of being considered for the papacy. He has held the number two position in the Vatican since 2013. With diplomatic duties for the church in Nigeria, Mexico, Spain, and Italy, he is considered a skilled hand on the world stage. He has also worked towards improving the Vatican-China relationship, which was strained due to the Holy See's recognition of Taiwan.
Parolin's supporters say that while he agrees with some of the late Pope Francis' aspirations, such as supporting efforts to embrace divorced individuals and opposing the United States government's plans for Gaza, he is also a pragmatist who understands the nuances of diplomacy and may take a more moderate approach than Francis.
However, critics say that he lacks pastoral experience and may prioritize diplomacy over the church's interests.
3. Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson
Of the three leading candidates from Africa, Turkson, 76, hailing from Ghana, is seen as more moderate and suitable for diplomacy. The African cardinal group is generally considered quite conservative, especially concerning the position of women in the church and same-sex marriage.
Experts previously marked Turkson as a favorite in 2013. Although he leans more conservative than liberal, he opposes the criminalization of gay relationships in Ghana, where a bill imposing severe punishment for homosexuality has been passed. Pattenden said there has never been an African Pope, and his election would be a breakthrough.
4. Cardinal Peter Erdo
Described as cautious and risk-averse, Erdo, 72, a Hungarian priest, is a respected and conservative lawyer. He is likely to receive support from those who want to diverge from Francis' era leadership style.
As the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, he is viewed by critics as friendly to Hungary's far-right party and the anti-migrant Fidesz party, causing some observers to describe his candidacy as something to be feared.
Although he does not directly oppose people's rights to migrate, Erdo has asked questions about how the integration of refugees could jeopardize political stability in Hungary.
Some also said that Erdo is unwilling to properly investigate allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. In an opinion piece in the British newspaper Guardian, Hungarian journalist Alex Faludy wrote that Erdo's name on the list should make observers "fearful."
“Erdo’s possible ascent to the papal throne would be bad news for LGBTQ+ Catholics and those who have remarried after divorce,” Faludy wrote. “It should, however, also worry abuse survivors and anyone concerned with the integrity of Christianity’s presence in public life.”
5. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi
Another well-known diplomat, an Italian and the Archbishop of Bologna, Zuppi, led a peace mission to Ukraine in 2023 and helped mediate the end of the Mozambique civil war in 1992.
He was appointed a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019, whose general aspirations he agrees with. As a member of the Catholic humanitarian group, Community of Sant'Egidio, Zuppi is expected to focus on improving outreach to less fortunate or crisis-stricken communities.
6. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
The Archbishop of Kinshasa from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Besungu, represents a major demographic group in the church. Congo has over 7 million Catholic followers, making it the largest Catholic country in Africa. He is another favorite among the conservative faction.
Cardinal Besungu is a staunch traditionalist. Though he opposes human rights violations in his homeland, he firmly opposes the approval of same-sex relationships campaigned for by Pope Francis, and has even criticized Pope Francis for his decisions on the topic.
7. Cardinal Michael Czerny
Originally from Czechoslovakia but raised in Canada, the 78-year-old Czerny leads the Vatican's social justice operations. He was appointed by Pope Francis and focuses on education, missionary work, and charity. The two men are considered close. Czerny has worked in Africa and Latin America and established the African Jesuit AIDS Network.
Experts say there is a possibility that Czerny will attract the interest of the progressive faction in the church, but there are doubts about whether the Council will soon elect another Jesuit pope. "Normally, we don’t have two consecutive popes of the same order," said Regoli.
8. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
From Italy, Pizzaballa, 60, is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, where he has resided since being ordained a priest at the age of 25. Pope Francis appointed him a cardinal in 2023. He has a good understanding of the complexities of the Palestine-Israel conflict, the ongoing Israel war in Gaza, and Middle East relations.
Pizzaballa has spoken out against the Gaza war, admonishing both sides. In the early days of the war, he offered to exchange himself for children taken hostage during Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Being much younger than Francis when he was elected Pope, Pizzaballa said he might lose some voters despite being a strong contender.
9. Cardinal Robert Sarah
Cardinal from Guinea, Sarah, 79, may be the most traditional and orthodox of all the leading candidates and is one of the most well-known church leaders from Africa. He was ordained the Archbishop of Conakry at the age of 34, and at that time was the youngest bishop in the world.
His outspoken nature placed him on a hit list for assassination by former Guinean dictator Ahmed Sekou Toure. The list was found after Toure's death.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Sarah as the head of evangelization, opening his sojourn into the Vatican proper. Pope Benedict appointed him cardinal in 2010, and he retired from active duty in 2021 as Prefect for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
He, however, reportedly had a turbulent relationship with Pope Francis. Sarah's inclination, age, and experience at the Vatican position him well for those in the college who wish to undo Francis' era reforms related to abortion, same-sex relationships, and the church's closeness with other religions.
10. Cardinal Angelo Scola
A long-standing Vatican saying is "Popes who enter a conclave often emerge as cardinals." This saying holds true for Scola, 83. In 2013, the Italian priest was mentioned as a media favorite, entering the conclave as someone many believed would become Pope.
The former Archbishop of Milan will not be able to cast a vote as he has passed the voting age limit of 80, but his name resurfaces as a credible candidate. His ideology is more akin to the conservative approach of Pope Benedict XVI who appointed him cardinal.
Scola, who remains mute on same-sex union, strongly opposes women deacons and other left-leaning gender debates. He has pastoral experience but is also a renowned professor and scholar with several written books. He focuses on themes of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, as well as evangelization and assisting newly converted Catholics.
Ida Rosdalina and Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to the writing of this article.
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