4 Strong Candidates to Succeed Pope Francis

April 29, 2025 | 07:44 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, marking the end of an important era in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Now, the world's attention is focused on the election of the 267th Pope, which will be determined through the Papal Conclave in the Sistine Chapel in the near future.

As is the tradition of conclaves that have been going on for centuries, cardinals from all over the world will gather in a closed forum to elect a new spiritual leader for more than 1.3 billion Catholics. This process is often colored by the dynamics of internal Church politics, strategic alliances, and even surprises, such as the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 2013 who later became known as Pope Francis, even though he was not initially a favorite name.

This time, a number of names have begun to emerge as potential candidates who are considered capable of continuing or even revising the direction of the Church that Pope Francis has taken so far. However, as with previous conclaves, not a single name is truly certain until white smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

Here are the four strong candidates who are said to have a big chance of succeeding Pope Francis:

1. Pietro Parolin (70 years old, Italy)

Serving as Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, Pietro Parolin is a key figure in the Roman Curia and is known as Pope Francis' right-hand man in various global diplomatic affairs. He played a key role in the dialogue with China regarding the appointment of bishops, as well as maintaining active communication with various governments in the Middle East.

His moderate character and diplomatic approach have made him popular with many international diplomats. However, some critics consider Parolin to prioritize political compromise over maintaining doctrinal steadfastness. Even so, in the eyes of his supporters, he is a symbol of continuity and stability.

2. Luis Antonio Tagle (67 years old, Philippines)

Tagle is an important figure from Asia, a region that is currently recording the fastest growth in the Catholic population in the world. The former Archbishop of Manila was once touted as Pope Francis' choice, especially because of the closeness of the progressive visions between the two.

He has been a vocal critic of the Church's perceived harshness toward same-sex couples and divorcees, while maintaining conservative views on abortion. Tagle's influence in the Vatican has been said to have waned in recent years, but his name remains high on the list of candidates.

3. Peter Turkson (76, Ghana)

If elected, Turkson would be the first black pope in modern history. He is known for speaking out on global social issues, from climate change to economic inequality, while defending the Church's traditional positions on issues such as the priesthood and marriage.

In recent years, his views on homosexuality have softened. He has criticized discriminatory laws in several African countries and advocated a more humane approach. His experience as a former president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has strengthened his image as a candidate for pope with a strong social character.

4. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (64, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Fridolin Ambongo Besungu. Doc. wikipedia.org/François-Régis Salefran

Besungu is a conservative figure who has risen sharply in recent years. The president of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar has come into the spotlight after publicly rejecting the doctrine of Fiducia supplicans, which allows for the blessing of unmarried couples and same-sex couples. He said the teaching does not apply in Africa.

Known as a Capuchin friar with a firm stance on orthodoxy, Besungu was seen as taking the Church back to a conservative line, away from the progressive policies of Pope Francis. However, he still received direct blessing from the Pope in 2019 when he was appointed cardinal.

Dewi Rina Cahyani and Rachel Caroline L. Toruan contributed for this article.

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