A list of potential successors of Pope Francis, which included Cardinal Tagle.
Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, and Cardinal Tagle and nine others are the potential successors to the late church leader.
After 12 years as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis died. He was 88 when he returned to the home of the Father. The last appearance he made was at St. Peter’s Square for Easter mass on Sunday.
Following his death, the centuries-old process of electing a new pope is set in motion. Some of the potential figures to be his successor are Matteo Zuppi, a progressive Italian cardinal; Pietro Parolin, who serves as the Vatican’s secretary of state; and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, from the Philippines.
The potential successors are the following:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin
He is the Vatican Secretary of State and a seasoned diplomat. - Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
He is a pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and is known for his progressive views and approach to social issues. - Cardinal Péter Erdő
The Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest is a conservative theologian who is respected for his scholarly work. - Cardinal Matteo Zuppi
He is the Cardinal Archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. - Cardinal Peter Turkson
The Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences is a known name in the Vatican’s social justice circles. - Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha
He is the Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia and an influential figure in Latin American Catholic circles. - Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes
He is the Archbishop of Mexico City and is also called the “Mexican Francis” for his similarities to the Argentine Pope in governance and teaching. - Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça
The Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education is a poet, biblical scholar, and educator. He leans more on the “progressive” wing of the Church. - Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke
He is the former Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. He has conservative views on social matters and had a strained relationship with Pope Francis. - Evangelisation Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
He is the Archbishop of Kinshasa and a fearless promoter of social justice, representing the poor and the voiceless.
As of January 2025, there are 252 cardinals, and 138 are eligible to vote in the election of the new Church leader. The voting eligibility ends at age 80, and the new pope will be the 267th in history.
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