What happens after the Pope’s death, and who might be the next Pope?

 

How is the next Pope selected?

Following the Pope’s death, confirmed by the Vatican on Monday morning, the cardinal chamberlain, Kevin Joseph Farrell (camerlengo), assumes the role of the Vatican’s interim administrator and announces the Pope’s passing to the world.

The Pope’s body, dressed in a white cassock, is moved to a private chapel where Farrell, church officials, and the Pope’s family oversee the placement of the body into a coffin.

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, the Catholic Church enters a period known as sede vacante ("the seat being vacant"), during which a complex, centuries-old process to elect a new pope is initiated. Here’s an overview of the process:

Mourning and Preparations:

The pope’s death is verified by the cardinal camerlengo (currently Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell), who oversees Vatican affairs during the interregnum. A nine-day mourning period, including the pope’s funeral (held within 4–6 days), begins.

The College of Cardinals, led by its dean (Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re), organizes the conclave, which typically starts 15–20 days after the pope’s death.

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The Conclave:

Participants: Only cardinals under 80 years old (138 out of 252 as of January 22, 2025) can vote in the conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel. While any baptized male Catholic can theoretically be elected, popes since 1379 have been chosen from among the cardinals.

Voting Process:

Cardinals take an oath of secrecy and are isolated from the outside world, staying in St. Martha’s House near the Sistine Chapel.

Up to four ballots are cast daily (two in the morning, two in the afternoon). A two-thirds majority is required to elect a pope.

Acceptance and Announcement: Once a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority, he is asked if he accepts (with “Accepto”) and chooses a papal name. The announcement “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”) is made from St. Peter’s Basilica balcony, followed by the new pope’s first blessing.

Key Features:

The process is secretive, with no external communication allowed to prevent influence. Informal discussions between voting rounds allow cardinals to shift support.

The conclave typically lasts a few days but can extend longer (the 1922 conclave took five days).

Ballots are burned after each session: black smoke indicates no decision, while white smoke signals a new pope has been elected.

If no pope is elected after 30–33 ballots (about 12 days), the cardinals may switch to a simple majority or a runoff between the top two candidates, per rules modified by Pope Benedict XVI.

Candidates to Be the Next Pope

Predicting the next pope is challenging due to the conclave’s secrecy and the lack of a clear frontrunner. However, several cardinals are frequently mentioned as papabile (potential popes) based on their influence, ideology, and regional representation. 

Below are key candidates, reflecting both progressive and conservative wings of the Church:

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy, 70):

Profile: Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, a moderate diplomat with extensive experience in Vatican governance and international relations (e.g., Nigeria and Mexico nunciatures). Seen as a continuation of Pope Francis’s legacy.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines, 67):

Profile: Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, known for his pastoral approach and progressive views aligned with Francis. A cardinal-bishop since 2020, he could be the first Asian pope.

Cardinal Peter Erdő (Hungary, 72):

Profile: A leading conservative, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, made a cardinal in 2003. Seen as a bridge to Eastern Christians.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy, 69):

Profile: Archbishop of Bologna, known for his work with the Sant’Egidio Community and social justice advocacy. A progressive in Francis’s mold

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Cardinal Raymond Burke (United States, 76):

Profile: An arch-conservative, former Archbishop of St. Louis, known for challenging Francis on issues like divorce, contraception, and same-sex relationships.

Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk (Netherlands, 71):

Profile: Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht, a conservative former doctor, made a cardinal in 2012.

Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana, 76):

Profile: Former Archbishop of Cape Coast, known for his work on social justice and environmental issues. Could be the first African pope since Pope Gelasius (492–496 AD).

Cardinal José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça (Portugal, 59):

Profile: Head of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, a liberal from Madeira appointed by Francis.