Cardinals who can possibly replace Pope Francis. Here’s a list.
Who is the next Pope after Pope Francis? Here are the cardinals considered as the frontrunners in being the next Church leader.
“I might not make it this time,” said Pope Francis to two (2) people who are close to him. This is amid his health struggles. He has a ‘complex’ respiratory infection and involves asthmatic bronchitis.
It was alleged previously that the Vatican is rehearsing for the funeral of the 88-year-old Pope. The Swiss Guard protecting the Pope is rehearsing with members ‘preparing for the pontiff’s death’.
Amid the buzz regarding the Pope’s health, some were talking about his successor. There were several cardinals considered as frontrunners.
These cardinals who might succeed are:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin
The 70-year-old cardinal is the Vatican’s secretary of state since 2013. He is from Veneto and is the highest-ranking cardinal in the electing conclave. Regarding the numerous geopolitical issues, his stand is, “Everyone can contribute to peace, but solutions must never be pursued through unilateral impositions that risk trampling on the rights of entire peoples, otherwise, there will never be a just and lasting peace.”
- Cardinal Peter Erdö
He is the former president of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe and is known as a devout Marian. He opposed the practice of divorced or remarried Catholics receiving Holy Communion and this is because of his firm belief in the insolubility of marriage. He became a cardinal in 2003 by Pope John Paul II.
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
The 67-year-old cardinal is the seventh Filipino to become a cardinal and if he succeeds, he will be the first Asian pope. He is critical of the church’s attitude and language towards gay people, unwed mothers, and divorced or remarried Catholics.
He said in 2015: “The harsh words that were used in the past 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.”
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi
He has been the president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022 and is considered Pope Francis’ favorite. He became a cardinal in 2019. Before becoming a cardinal, he has optimistic views on the LGBTQ community.
- Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke
He is an outspoken traditionalist and was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. His clash with the more liberal philosophies of Pope Francis is very public as the latter has an open mind to matters like allowing divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist.
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