Who could be the next Pope? Potential successors to Francis
What's the story
Pope Francis, 88, is currently hospitalized due to double pneumonia.
He showed the onset of "bilateral pneumonia," which means it is present in both his lungs, as his illness "continues to present a complex picture," the Vatican said.
On Sunday, the Vatican said his blood tests also indicated an "initial, slight insufficiency" in his kidney function.
Given these developments, speculation about who might succeed him has intensified.
Election process
Papal conclave: The process of electing a new pope
In the event of a pope's death or resignation, such as with Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican holds a papal conclave, in which the College of Cardinals meets to elect the Church's new head.
As of January 22, 2025, there are 138 electors among the 252 cardinals.
Only cardinals below the age of 80 can vote in this secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel.
The election needs a two-thirds majority and usually takes 15-20 days.
Potential successor
Cardinal Pietro Parolin: A moderate figure in the Vatican
Several cardinals are seen as potential papacy candidates.
One of them is Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, who is viewed as a moderate within the church.
In a recent interview, he stressed "solutions must never be pursued through unilateral impositions" for lasting peace.
Within the church, Parolin has always been seen as a reasonable moderate who does not subscribe to "left" or "right" political views.
Conservative candidate
Cardinal Peter Erdo: A conservative voice from Hungary
Another possible successor to Pope Francis is Cardinal Peter Erdo from Hungary, 72.
Erdo is a conservative voice within the church and opposes divorced or remarried Catholics from receiving Holy Communion.
Erdo has also compared refugee intake to human trafficking.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, could become the first Asian pope if elected.
Currently serving as pro-prefect for evangelization, Tagle shares the left-leaning views of Pope Francis.
Progressive candidate
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle: A progressive voice from Asia
He had also criticized the past harsh language used within the church toward marginalized groups.
"The harsh words...to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers etc, in the past they were quite severe. Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society," he said.
Peace advocate
Cardinals Matteo Zuppi and Raymond Leo Burke
Another possible successor to Pope Francis is Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69.
Zuppi, who is favored by the current pope, heads Italy's Episcopal Conference and has participated in global peace missions to Ukraine and the United States.
Seen as an outspoken traditionalist, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke is another contender.
He has publicly disagreed with Pope Francis's more liberal beliefs, particularly his readiness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist.