Conclave to Elect New Pope Set for May 7th 2025
A papal conclave will convene on May 7th, 2025, in the Sistine Chapel to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st at the age of 88. The conclave, a process steeped in tradition and secrecy, will bring together cardinals from around the world to choose the next head of the Catholic Church ROMANO PONTIFICI ELIGENDO.
This conclave will follow a similar structure to the one held in 2013. Both the Dean and Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re and Leonardo Sandri respectively, are over 80 and thus ineligible to vote. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the most senior cardinal bishop under 80, will preside over the proceedings.
The timing of the conclave adheres to the guidelines established by Pope John Paul II’s 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, as amended by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. These rules stipulate a minimum 15-day waiting period after the vacancy of the papal see before the conclave can begin. However, the cardinals retain the flexibility to convene earlier, should all eligible participants arrive, or to postpone for justifiable reasons, but no later than 20 days after the vacancy. Following a fifth general congregation of cardinals on April 28th, the decision was made to commence the conclave on May 7th. The world awaits with anticipation the outcome of this significant event.
The 2025 Papal Conclave: A Historic Process in Modern Times
Vatican City – The world awaits the upcoming papal conclave, scheduled to begin no later than May 7th, 2025, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21st. This gathering of the College of Cardinals marks a pivotal moment in the history of the Catholic Church, as they convene to elect the next Bishop of Rome, the successor to Saint Peter and head of the Catholic faith.
The conclave’s origins trace back to the earliest days of the Church, when the selection of the Bishop of Rome was determined by consensus among the clergy and laity of the diocese. However, the process evolved significantly over the centuries. Concerns about political influence led to crucial reforms in the 13th century. Following the prolonged interregnum of 1268-1271, Pope Gregory X decreed at the Second Council of Lyons (1274) that cardinal electors should be confined – cum clave (with a key) – until a new pope was chosen. This practice, ensuring seclusion and minimizing external pressures, continues to this day, with the conclave taking place within the confines of the Sistine Chapel.
The College of Cardinals was formally established as the sole electing body in 1059, streamlining the process. Further refinements have occurred over time, including Pope Paul VI’s 1970 decree in Ingravescentem aetatem, limiting electors to cardinals under 80 years of age. The current procedures, largely defined by Pope John Paul II’s Universi Dominici gregis and subsequently modified by Pope Benedict XVI, require a two-thirds supermajority vote to elect a new pope.
The 2013 conclave, which saw the election of Pope Francis following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, serves as the most recent precedent. While the May 7th date provides a deadline, the conclave could commence earlier if all eligible cardinals arrive in Rome before then, in accordance with the provisions outlined in Pope Benedict XVI’s Normas Nonnullas, which sets a timeframe of 15-20 days after the vacancy of the papal see. The world watches as this ancient yet evolving process unfolds, shaping the future of the Catholic Church.
Conclave Begins: Cardinals Gather to Elect New Pope
Vatican City – The 2025 Papal Conclave commenced today, May 7th, within the hallowed halls of the Sistine Chapel. This historic gathering of cardinals marks the beginning of the process to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st.
In accordance with the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, only cardinals under the age of 80 on the day of the Holy See’s vacancy (April 21st, 2025) are eligible to participate. This limits the voting pool to 135 cardinals from the College of Cardinals’ 252 members. Two cardinals have already declared their inability to attend, reducing the expected number of participants to 133.
The election process, shrouded in secrecy, will proceed via secret ballot (per scrutinium). A two-thirds supermajority, or 89 votes, is required for a candidate to be elected Pope. The diverse group of electors includes cardinals from various backgrounds and roles within the Church: 5 cardinal bishops, 110 cardinal priests, and 20 cardinal deacons. Their appointments span the papacies of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis himself. The age range of the electors is significant, with the oldest, Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, at 79, and the youngest, Cardinal Mykola Bychok, at just 45. A further 116 cardinals are ineligible due to age.
The world watches with bated breath as these cardinals embark on this crucial task, their deliberations shaping the future direction of the Catholic Church. The outcome of this conclave will undoubtedly have profound global implications.
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The 2025 Papal Conclave: A Deep Dive into the Cardinal Electors
Vatican City – The 2025 Papal Conclave, currently underway in the Sistine Chapel, is not merely a ceremonial election; it’s a complex process involving a carefully defined group of electors: the cardinals under 80 years of age at the time of Pope Francis’s death. Understanding the composition of this body is crucial to grasping the dynamics and potential outcomes of this historic event.
The College of Cardinals, from which the electors are drawn, is structured into three orders: Cardinal Bishops (CB), Cardinal Priests (CP), and Cardinal Deacons (CD). This hierarchical structure dictates the order of precedence in the conclave, influencing the order of procession, oath-taking, and ballot casting. Within each order, precedence is determined by a combination of factors including date of appointment as a cardinal bishop, and for cardinal priests and deacons, the date of their consistory (the ceremony at which they were elevated to the cardinalate).
The current conclave features a diverse group of 133 eligible cardinal electors (following the withdrawal of two initially eligible cardinals). This group includes five cardinals from Eastern Catholic Churches, representing a significant aspect of the global Catholic community: Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako (Chaldean Church), Cardinal Baselios Cleemis (Syro-Malankara Church), Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel (Ethiopian Church), Cardinal Mykola Bychok (Ukrainian Greek Church), and Cardinal George Koovakad (Syro-Malabar Church). Their presence highlights the increasingly global nature of the Catholic Church.
The leadership within the conclave is also noteworthy. Cardinal Pietro Parolin holds the position of senior cardinal bishop, Cardinal Vinko Puljić is the senior cardinal priest, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti is the senior cardinal deacon, and Cardinal George Koovakad is the junior cardinal deacon. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, serving as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, assumes the crucial role of administering the Holy See during the vacancy.
The electors represent a broad spectrum of experience and roles within the Church. Many are actively engaged in pastoral ministry across various countries, while others serve in the Roman Curia, the administrative body of the Holy See. A significant number are retired, bringing a wealth of accumulated wisdom and perspective to the proceedings. The age range of the electors is also striking, spanning from Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, the oldest at 79, to Cardinal Mykola Bychok, the youngest at 45, underscoring the generational diversity within the decision-making body.
(The following would typically be a detailed table outlining the individual cardinals, their order of precedence, their roles, and their affiliations. Due to the limitations of this text-based environment, the table cannot be fully reproduced here. However, the information contained within the table would include details such as each cardinal’s name, order (CB, CP, or CD), country of pastoral ministry (if applicable), date of creation as a cardinal, and any relevant affiliations or orders.)
The composition of the cardinal electors provides valuable insight into the potential directions the Church might take under its new leader. The diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of these individuals will undoubtedly shape the discussions and deliberations within the Sistine Chapel, culminating in the selection of the next Pope. The world awaits the outcome of this momentous conclave.
| Rank | Name | Country | Born | Order | Consistory | Office |
| 1 | Pietro Parolin | Italy | 17-Jan-55 | CB | 22-Feb-14 | Secretary of State of His Holiness |
| (age 70) | Francis | |||||
| 2 | Fernando Filoni | Italy | 15-Apr-46 | CB | 18-Feb-12 | Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre |
| (age 79) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 3 | Luis Antonio Tagle | Philippines | 21-Jun-57 | CB | 24-Nov-12 | Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization |
| (age 67) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 4 | Robert Francis Prevost OSA | United States | 14-Sep-55 | CB | 30-Sep-23 | Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops |
| (age 69) | Francis | |||||
| 5 | Louis Raphaël I Sako | Iraq | 04-Jul-48 | CB | 28-Jun-18 | Patriarch of Baghdad |
| (age 76) | Francis | (Chaldean Church) | ||||
| 6 | Vinko Puljić | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 08-Sep-45 | CP | 26-Nov-94 | Archbishop emeritus of Vrhbosna |
| (age 79) | John Paul II | |||||
| 7 | Peter Turkson | Ghana | 11-Oct-48 | CP | 21-Oct-03 | Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences |
| (age 76) | John Paul II | |||||
| 8 | Josip Bozanić | Croatia | 20-Mar-49 | CP | 21-Oct-03 | Archbishop emeritus of Zagreb |
| (age 76) | John Paul II | |||||
| 9 | Philippe Barbarin | France | 17-Oct-50 | CP | 21-Oct-03 | Archbishop emeritus of Lyon |
| (age 74) | John Paul II | |||||
| 10 | Péter Erdő | Hungary | 25-Jun-52 | CP | 21-Oct-03 | Archbishop of Esztergom–Budapest |
| (age 72) | John Paul II | |||||
| 11 | Stanisław Ryłko | Poland | 04-Jul-45 | CP | 24-Nov-07 | Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major |
| (age 79) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 12 | Francisco Robles Ortega | Mexico | 02-Mar-49 | CP | 24-Nov-07 | Archbishop of Guadalajara |
| (age 76) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 13 | Daniel DiNardo | United States | 23-May-49 | CP | 24-Nov-07 | Archbishop emeritus of Galveston–Houston |
| (age 75) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 14 | Odilo Scherer | Brazil | 21-Sep-49 | CP | 24-Nov-07 | Archbishop of São Paulo |
| (age 75) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 15 | Robert Sarah | Guinea | 15-Jun-45 | CP | 20-Nov-10 | Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments |
| (age 79) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 16 | Raymond Leo Burke | United States | 30-Jun-48 | CP | 20-Nov-10 | Patron emeritus of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta |
| (age 76) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 17 | Kurt Koch | Switzerland | 15-Mar-50 | CP | 20-Nov-10 | Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity |
| (age 75) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 18 | Kazimierz Nycz | Poland | 01-Feb-50 | CP | 20-Nov-10 | Archbishop emeritus of Warsaw |
| (age 75) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 19 | Malcolm Ranjith | Sri Lanka | 15-Nov-47 | CP | 20-Nov-10 | Archbishop of Colombo |
| (age 77) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 20 | Reinhard Marx | Germany | 21-Sep-53 | CP | 20-Nov-10 | Archbishop of Munich and Freising and Coordinator of the Council for the Economy |
| (age 71) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 21 | João Braz de Aviz | Brazil | 24-Apr-47 | CP | 18-Feb-12 | Prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life |
| (age 77) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 22 | Thomas Collins | Canada | 16-Jan-47 | CP | 18-Feb-12 | Archbishop emeritus of Toronto |
| (age 78) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 23 | Wim Eijk | Netherlands | 22-Jun-53 | CP | 18-Feb-12 | Archbishop of Utrecht |
| (age 71) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 24 | Giuseppe Betori | Italy | 25-Feb-47 | CP | 18-Feb-12 | Archbishop emeritus of Florence |
| (age 78) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 25 | Timothy M. Dolan | United States | 06-Feb-50 | CP | 18-Feb-12 | Archbishop of New York |
| (age 75) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 26 | Rainer Woelki | Germany | 18-Aug-56 | CP | 18-Feb-12 | Archbishop of Cologne |
| (age 68) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 27 | James Michael Harvey | United States | 20-Oct-49 | CP | 24-Nov-12 | Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls |
| (age 75) | Benedict XVI | |||||
| 28 | Baselios Cleemis | India | 15-Jun-59 | CP | 24-Nov-12 | Major Archbishop of Trivandrum |
| (age 65) | Benedict XVI | (Syro-Malankara Church) | ||||
| 29 | Gerhard Ludwig Müller | Germany | 31-Dec-47 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 30 | Vincent Nichols | United Kingdom | 08-Nov-45 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Archbishop of Westminster |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 31 | Leopoldo Brenes | Nicaragua | 07-Mar-49 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Archbishop of Managua |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 32 | Gérald Lacroix ISPX | Canada | 27-Jul-57 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Archbishop of Quebec |
| (age 67) | Francis | |||||
| 33 | Jean-Pierre Kutwa | Ivory Coast | 22-Dec-45 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Archbishop emeritus of Abidjan |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 34 | Orani João Tempesta OCist | Brazil | 23-Jun-50 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro |
| (age 74) | Francis | |||||
| 35 | Mario Aurelio Poli | Argentina | 29-Nov-47 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Archbishop emeritus of Buenos Aires |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 36 | Philippe Ouédraogo | Burkina Faso | 31 December 1945[d] | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Archbishop emeritus of Ouagadougou |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 37 | Chibly Langlois | Haiti | 29-Nov-58 | CP | 22-Feb-14 | Bishop of Les Cayes |
| (age 66) | Francis | |||||
| 38 | Manuel Clemente | Portugal | 16-Jul-48 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Patriarch emeritus of Lisbon |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 39 | Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel CM | Ethiopia | 14-Jul-48 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Archbishop of Addis Abeba |
| (age 76) | Francis | (Ethiopian Church) | ||||
| 40 | John Dew | New Zealand | 05-May-48 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Archbishop emeritus of Wellington |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 41 | Charles Maung Bo SDB | Myanmar | 29-Oct-48 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Archbishop of Yangon |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 42 | Kriengsak Kovitvanit | Thailand | 27-Jun-49 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Archbishop emeritus of Bangkok |
| (age 75) | Francis | |||||
| 43 | Francesco Montenegro | Italy | 22-May-46 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Archbishop emeritus of Agrigento |
| (age 78) | Francis | |||||
| 44 | Daniel Sturla SDB | Uruguay | 04-Jul-59 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Archbishop of Montevideo |
| (age 65) | Francis | |||||
| 45 | Arlindo Gomes Furtado | Cape Verde | 15-Nov-49 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde |
| (age 75) | Francis | |||||
| 46 | Soane Patita Paini Mafi | Tonga | 19-Dec-61 | CP | 14-Feb-15 | Bishop of Tonga |
| (age 63) | Francis | |||||
| 47 | Dieudonné Nzapalainga CSSp | Central African Republic | 14-Mar-67 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop of Bangui |
| (age 58) | Francis | |||||
| 48 | Carlos Osoro Sierra | Spain | 16-May-45 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop emeritus of Madrid |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 49 | Sérgio da Rocha | Brazil | 21-Oct-59 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia |
| (age 65) | Francis | |||||
| 50 | Blase J. Cupich | United States | 19-Mar-49 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop of Chicago |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 51 | Jozef De Kesel | Belgium | 17-Jun-47 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop emeritus of Mechelen–Brussels |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 52 | Carlos Aguiar Retes | Mexico | 09-Jan-50 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop of Mexico |
| (age 75) | Francis | |||||
| 53 | John Ribat MSC | Papua New Guinea | 09-Feb-57 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop of Port Moresby |
| (age 68) | Francis | |||||
| 54 | Joseph W. Tobin CSsR | United States | 03-May-52 | CP | 19-Nov-16 | Archbishop of Newark |
| (age 72) | Francis | |||||
| 55 | Juan José Omella | Spain | 21-Apr-46 | CP | 28-Jun-17 | Archbishop of Barcelona |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 56 | Anders Arborelius OCD | Sweden | 24-Sep-49 | CP | 28-Jun-17 | Bishop of Stockholm |
| (age 75) | Francis | |||||
| 57 | Angelo De Donatis | Italy | 04-Jan-54 | CP | 28-Jun-18 | Major Penitentiary |
| (age 71) | Francis | |||||
| 58 | Joseph Coutts | Pakistan | 21-Jul-45 | CP | 28-Jun-18 | Archbishop emeritus of Karachi |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 59 | António Marto | Portugal | 05-May-47 | CP | 28-Jun-18 | Bishop emeritus of Leiria–Fátima |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 60 | Désiré Tsarahazana | Madagascar | 13-Jun-54 | CP | 28-Jun-18 | Archbishop of Toamasina |
| (age 70) | Francis | |||||
| 61 | Giuseppe Petrocchi | Italy | 19-Aug-48 | CP | 28-Jun-18 | Archbishop emeritus of L’Aquila |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 62 | Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda | Japan | 03-Mar-49 | CP | 28-Jun-18 | Archbishop of Osaka–Takamatsu |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 63 | Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo | Indonesia | 09-Jul-50 | CP | 05-Oct-19 | Archbishop of Jakarta |
| (age 74) | Francis | |||||
| 64 | Juan García Rodríguez | Cuba | 11-Jul-48 | CP | 05-Oct-19 | Archbishop of San Cristóbal de la Habana |
| (age 76) | Francis | |||||
| 65 | Fridolin Ambongo Besungu OFMCap | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 24-Jan-60 | CP | 05-Oct-19 | Archbishop of Kinshasa |
| (age 65) | Francis | |||||
| 66 | Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ | Luxembourg | 09-Aug-58 | CP | 05-Oct-19 | Archbishop of Luxembourg |
| (age 66) | Francis | |||||
| 67 | Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri | Guatemala | 16-Jul-47 | CP | 05-Oct-19 | Bishop of Huehuetenango |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 68 | Matteo Zuppi | Italy | 11-Oct-55 | CP | 05-Oct-19 | Archbishop of Bologna |
| (age 69) | Francis | |||||
| 69 | Cristóbal López Romero SDB | Morocco[e] | 19-May-52 | CP | 05-Oct-19 | Archbishop of Rabat |
| (age 72) | Francis | |||||
| 70 | Antoine Kambanda | Rwanda | 10-Nov-58 | CP | 28-Nov-20 | Archbishop of Kigali |
| (age 66) | Francis | |||||
| 71 | Wilton Daniel Gregory | United States | 07-Dec-47 | CP | 28-Nov-20 | Archbishop emeritus of Washington |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 72 | Jose Advincula OP | Philippines | 30-Mar-52 | CP | 28-Nov-20 | Archbishop of Manila |
| (age 73) | Francis | |||||
| 73 | Augusto Paolo Lojudice | Italy | 01-Jul-64 | CP | 28-Nov-20 | Archbishop of Siena–Colle di Val d’Elsa–Montalcino and Bishop of Montepulciano–Chiusi–Pienza |
| (age 60) | Francis | |||||
| 74 | Jean-Marc Aveline | France | 26-Dec-58 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Marseille |
| (age 66) | Francis | |||||
| 75 | Peter Okpaleke | Nigeria | 01-Mar-63 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Bishop of Ekwulobia |
| (age 62) | Francis | |||||
| 76 | Leonardo Ulrich Steiner OFM | Brazil | 06-Nov-50 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Manaus |
| (age 74) | Francis | |||||
| 77 | Filipe Neri Ferrão | India | 20-Jan-53 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Goa and Daman and Patriarch of the East Indies |
| (age 72) | Francis | |||||
| 78 | Robert W. McElroy | United States | 05-Feb-54 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Washington |
| (age 71) | Francis | |||||
| 79 | Virgílio do Carmo da Silva SDB | Timor-Leste | 27-Nov-67 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Díli |
| (age 57) | Francis | |||||
| 80 | Oscar Cantoni | Italy | 01-Sep-50 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Bishop of Como |
| (age 74) | Francis | |||||
| 81 | Anthony Poola | India | 15-Nov-61 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Hyderabad |
| (age 63) | Francis | |||||
| 82 | Paulo Cezar Costa | Brazil | 20-Jul-67 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Brasília |
| (age 57) | Francis | |||||
| 83 | William Goh | Singapore | 25-Jun-57 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Singapore |
| (age 67) | Francis | |||||
| 84 | Adalberto Martínez Flores | Paraguay | 08-Jul-51 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Archbishop of Asunción |
| (age 73) | Francis | |||||
| 85 | Giorgio Marengo IMC | Mongolia[f] | 07-Jun-74 | CP | 27-Aug-22 | Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar |
| (age 50) | Francis | |||||
| 86 | Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM | Jerusalem[g] | 21-Apr-65 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem |
| (age 60) | Francis | |||||
| 87 | Stephen Brislin | South Africa | 24-Sep-56 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Archbishop of Johannesburg |
| (age 68) | Francis | |||||
| 88 | Ángel Sixto Rossi SJ | Argentina | 11-Aug-58 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Archbishop of Córdoba |
| (age 66) | Francis | |||||
| 89 | Luis José Rueda Aparicio | Colombia | 03-Mar-62 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Archbishop of Bogotá |
| (age 63) | Francis | |||||
| 90 | Grzegorz Ryś | Poland | 09-Feb-64 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Archbishop of Łódź |
| (age 61) | Francis | |||||
| 91 | Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla | South Sudan | 10-Jan-64 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Archbishop of Juba |
| (age 61) | Francis | |||||
| 92 | José Cobo Cano | Spain | 20-Sep-65 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Archbishop of Madrid |
| (age 59) | Francis | |||||
| 93 | Protase Rugambwa | Tanzania | 31-May-60 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Archbishop of Tabora |
| (age 64) | Francis | |||||
| 94 | Sebastian Francis | Malaysia | 11-Nov-51 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Bishop of Penang |
| (age 73) | Francis | |||||
| 95 | Stephen Chow Sau-yan SJ | China | 07-Aug-59 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Bishop of Hong Kong |
| (Hong Kong)[h] | (age 65) | Francis | ||||
| 96 | François-Xavier Bustillo OFMConv | France[i] | 23-Nov-68 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Bishop of Ajaccio |
| (age 56) | Francis | |||||
| 97 | Américo Aguiar | Portugal | 12-Dec-73 | CP | 30-Sep-23 | Bishop of Setúbal |
| (age 51) | Francis | |||||
| 98 | Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio | Peru | 28-Feb-50 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Lima |
| (age 75) | Francis | |||||
| 99 | Vicente Bokalic Iglic CM | Argentina | 11-Jun-52 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Santiago del Estero |
| (age 72) | Francis | |||||
| 100 | Luis Cabrera Herrera OFM | Ecuador | 11-Oct-55 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Guayaquil |
| (age 69) | Francis | |||||
| 101 | Fernando Chomalí Garib | Chile | 10-Mar-57 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Santiago de Chile |
| (age 68) | Francis | |||||
| 102 | Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi SVD | Japan | 01-Nov-58 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Tokyo |
| (age 66) | Francis | |||||
| 103 | Pablo Virgilio David | Philippines | 02-Mar-59 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Bishop of Kalookan |
| (age 66) | Francis | |||||
| 104 | Ladislav Nemet SVD | Serbia[j] | 07-Sep-56 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Belgrade |
| (age 68) | Francis | |||||
| 105 | Jaime Spengler OFM | Brazil | 06-Sep-60 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Porto Alegre |
| (age 64) | Francis | |||||
| 106 | Ignace Bessi Dogbo | Ivory Coast | 17-Aug-61 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Abidjan |
| (age 63) | Francis | |||||
| 107 | Jean-Paul Vesco OP | Algeria[k] | 10-Mar-62 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Algiers |
| (age 63) | Francis | |||||
| 108 | Dominique Mathieu OFMConv | Iran[l] | 13-Jun-63 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Tehran–Isfahan |
| (age 61) | Francis | |||||
| 109 | Roberto Repole | Italy | 29-Jan-67 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Turin and Bishop of Susa |
| (age 58) | Francis | |||||
| 110 | Baldassare Reina | Italy | 26-Nov-70 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Vicar General for Rome and Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran |
| (age 54) | Francis | |||||
| 111 | Frank Leo | Canada | 30-Jun-71 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Toronto |
| (age 53) | Francis | |||||
| 112 | Mykola Bychok CSsR | Australia[m] | 13-Feb-80 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Eparch of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne |
| (age 45) | Francis | (Ukrainian Greek Church) | ||||
| 113 | Domenico Battaglia | Italy | 20-Jan-63 | CP | 07-Dec-24 | Archbishop of Naples |
| (age 62) | Francis | |||||
| 114 | Dominique Mamberti | France | 07-Mar-52 | CD | 14-Feb-15 | Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura |
| (age 73) | Francis | |||||
| 115 | Mario Zenari | Italy | 05-Jan-46 | CD | 19-Nov-16 | Apostolic Nuncio to Syria |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 116 | Kevin Farrell | United States[n] | 02-Sep-47 | CD | 19-Nov-16 | Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 117 | Konrad Krajewski | Poland | 25-Nov-63 | CD | 28-Jun-18 | Almoner of His Holiness |
| (age 61) | Francis | |||||
| 118 | José Tolentino de Mendonça | Portugal | 15-Dec-65 | CD | 05-Oct-19 | Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education |
| (age 59) | Francis | |||||
| 119 | Michael Czerny SJ | Canada[o] | 18-Jul-46 | CD | 05-Oct-19 | Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development |
| (age 78) | Francis | |||||
| 120 | Mario Grech | Malta | 20-Feb-57 | CD | 28-Nov-20 | Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops |
| (age 68) | Francis | |||||
| 121 | Marcello Semeraro | Italy | 22-Dec-47 | CD | 28-Nov-20 | Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints |
| (age 77) | Francis | |||||
| 122 | Mauro Gambetti OFMConv | Italy | 27-Oct-65 | CD | 28-Nov-20 | Vicar General for Vatican City, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter |
| (age 59) | Francis | |||||
| 123 | Arthur Roche | United Kingdom | 06-Mar-50 | CD | 27-Aug-22 | Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments |
| (age 75) | Francis | |||||
| 124 | Lazarus You Heung-sik | South Korea | 17-Nov-51 | CD | 27-Aug-22 | Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy |
| (age 73) | Francis | |||||
| 125 | Claudio Gugerotti | Italy | 07-Oct-55 | CD | 30-Sep-23 | Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches |
| (age 69) | Francis | |||||
| 126 | Víctor Manuel Fernández | Argentina | 18-Jul-62 | CD | 30-Sep-23 | Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith |
| (age 62) | Francis | |||||
| 127 | Emil Paul Tscherrig | Switzerland | 03-Feb-47 | CD | 30-Sep-23 | Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to Italy and San Marino |
| (age 78) | Francis | |||||
| 128 | Christophe Pierre | France | 30-Jan-46 | CD | 30-Sep-23 | Apostolic Nuncio to the United States |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 129 | Ángel Fernández Artime SDB | Spain | 21-Aug-60 | CD | 30-Sep-23 | Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life |
| (age 64) | Francis | |||||
| 130 | Rolandas Makrickas | Lithuania | 31-Jan-72 | CD | 07-Dec-24 | Coadjutor Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major |
| (age 53) | Francis | |||||
| 131 | Timothy Radcliffe OP | United Kingdom | 22-Aug-45 | CD | 07-Dec-24 | Master emeritus of the Order of Preachers |
| (age 79) | Francis | |||||
| 132 | Fabio Baggio CS | Italy | 15-Jan-65 | CD | 07-Dec-24 | Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development |
| (age 60) | Francis | |||||
| 133 | George Koovakad | India | 11-Aug-73 | CD | 07-Dec-24 | Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue |
| (age 51) | Francis | (Syro-Malabar Church) |
Two Cardinals Initially Unable to Attend Due to Health Concerns
Two cardinals, Antonio Cañizares Llovera of Spain and John Njue of Kenya, initially announced their inability to attend a recent event due to health reasons. Both cardinals, Archbishop emeritus of Valencia and Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi respectively, were originally listed as absent. However, both were later cleared by their physicians and ultimately able to participate. Further details regarding the specific event and the nature of their health concerns were not released.
Speculation Grows Over Future Conclave Amid Pope Francis’s Extended Hospital Stay
As Pope Francis’s hospitalization in Rome enters its fourth week with little indication of a swift return to the Vatican — and with Easter fast approaching — speculation has begun to swirl around the possibility of an impending papal conclave.
Though Vatican officials insist the 88-year-old pope remains in stable condition and continues to receive treatment, observers across the Catholic world are beginning to ask serious questions about the future leadership of the Church. While some consider such discussions premature, the prolonged absence of the pope from public view has sparked renewed focus on both who might be elected as a successor — and who would be eligible to vote.
Currently, there are 137 cardinals eligible to vote in a conclave, 17 more than the 120-elector ceiling established by Pope St. Paul VI in 1970. That numerical overage has fueled debate among commentators and canonists alike: Would some cardinals be barred from participating in a future conclave? If so, on what basis?
Despite the seemingly clear numerical limit, the legal and ecclesiological picture is far more nuanced. Church law, as shaped by successive pontiffs, does not rigidly bind the hands of future popes. St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis himself have all convened consistories that exceeded the 120 limit. Canonical experts widely agree that such discretionary action is legally sound — a result of the pope’s supreme legislative authority in the Church, which allows him to dispense from norms established by his predecessors.
“The 120 limit was never a doctrinal boundary,” explained Fr. Matteo Zorzi, a Rome-based canon lawyer. “It’s an ecclesiastical discipline — one that any pope can modify or disregard entirely, as Pope Francis has repeatedly done.”
Should a conclave be called under the current conditions, the expectation is that all 137 eligible cardinal electors would be admitted, unless specific legal or medical circumstances disqualified them individually. No mechanism exists under current canon law for automatic exclusion based on exceeding the numerical cap.
Still, the growing list of papabile — a term for potential pope candidates — has become a fixture in ecclesial and media discussions, even as Vatican spokesmen urge caution against what they call “speculative conjecture.”
For now, the eyes of the world remain on the Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis continues his recovery. But inside Vatican walls and beyond, attention is slowly — and quietly — shifting toward a question that looms large.
Speculation Over Future Conclave Raises Deeper Questions About Cardinal Electors, Papal Authority, and Church Law
Vatican City — May 4, 2025
With Pope Francis’s hospitalization now approaching a full month and reports suggesting that a return to the Vatican before Easter remains unlikely, conversation in Church and media circles has begun to shift toward the increasingly plausible scenario of a papal conclave. While the Holy See has made no formal indication of any looming vacancy in the See of Peter, the extended absence of the pope from public life has prompted renewed interest not just in who might be elected — but how that election would occur, and under what legal framework.
Central to the discussion is the College of Cardinals, currently composed of 137 electors — well above the commonly referenced cap of 120. This discrepancy has prompted debate: is the current group of electors in violation of Church law? Would a conclave have to exclude some cardinals in order to comply with this number? Or is the 120 merely a guideline, not a binding limit?
The answer is more complex than it first appears and reveals a great deal about the structure of authority within the Catholic Church — including what belongs to divine law, and what is established by ecclesiastical law.
What Is Divine Law — And What Isn’t
Some institutions within the Church are considered of divine law — that is, they were instituted by Christ himself and cannot be abolished by any human authority. The papacy is one such institution, as is the global College of Bishops, composed of all the bishops in communion with the Bishop of Rome. These entities are, in Catholic belief, essential and permanent elements of the Church.
By contrast, the College of Cardinals, though nearly a thousand years old, is not of divine origin. It was first formally organized in 1150 and exists solely as a matter of ecclesiastical law — created, maintained, and governed by the authority of the pope. Its purpose has always been to assist the pope in governing the Church and, most notably, to elect his successor.
Because of its man-made nature, the College’s composition and rules can be — and have been — freely adjusted by popes throughout history.
The Evolution of Papal Elections
For the first several centuries of Christianity, popes were elected not by cardinals but by the clergy and laity of Rome. Over time, as the papacy gained global prominence, the process evolved. The cardinalate emerged as the primary body of electors by the high Middle Ages, and by the 13th century, the conclave — a locked, secretive gathering of cardinals to elect the next pope — became the standard method.
Even so, the structure and rules of the conclave have seen periodic and sometimes dramatic reforms — almost always enacted directly by popes themselves, who possess what canon law describes as the “supreme, full, immediate, and universal power” in the Church. As such, they are free to modify even long-standing ecclesiastical norms, including those governing the conclave.
Paul VI’s Reforms: Age Limits and a New Norm
Perhaps the most significant reform of the modern conclave came in 1970, when Pope St. Paul VI issued the motu proprio Ingravescentem aetatem. In it, he established that cardinals who reach the age of 80 would no longer be eligible to vote in a conclave — a rule that remains in force to this day. The move was controversial at the time, as it removed voting rights from many experienced Church leaders, including long-serving curial officials.
Five years later, Paul VI issued another document, Romano pontifici eligendo, which further restructured the conclave. One of its key provisions was a new upper limit: “the maximum number of cardinal electors, however, may not exceed one hundred and twenty.” The purpose of the reform was not to restrict influence but to make room for greater representation, especially from the growing Churches of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Paul’s move echoed earlier efforts by Pius XII to expand the college from its long-held cap of 70, which dated back centuries.
Paul VI ultimately appointed 143 cardinals during his 15-year pontificate, and his reforms laid the foundation for a more globalized and diverse College of Cardinals.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICS:
- The 2025 Papal Conclave
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John Paul II and the Legacy of the 120 Limit
In 1996, Pope St. John Paul II issued Universi dominici gregis, a new apostolic constitution that superseded Paul’s earlier legislation but retained the 120-elector limit as a formal norm. The document governs not only the conclave itself but the broader rules of papal interregnum — the period between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor.
However, Universi dominici gregis did not provide any mechanism for excluding cardinals once the 120 threshold was passed. Nor did it suggest that exceeding the number would invalidate a conclave. In fact, every pope since Paul VI — including John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis — has at some point exceeded the limit, usually citing the pastoral need to recognize and include bishops from underserved parts of the world.
Canon Law and the Power of the Pope
The Church’s legal experts broadly agree that the 120-elector limit is a disciplinary norm, not a binding legal ceiling. “There is no law in the Church that can bind the pope permanently unless it is rooted in divine law,” explains Fr. Thomas Caruso, a canonist and professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University. “Disciplinary laws like the 120 limit are norms of governance, not matters of doctrine or divine constitution.”
In other words, any pope has the authority to exceed the 120-cardinal-elector limit — and has done so — because he is not bound by the ecclesiastical legislation of his predecessors. This has become a well-established practice and is now viewed as legally unobjectionable.
So What Happens If a Conclave Happens Tomorrow?
If a conclave were to be called under current circumstances, all 137 eligible cardinals under the age of 80 would be expected to participate, unless prevented by illness, distance, or another grave impediment. There is no current provision in canon law that would allow — let alone require — the exclusion of electors solely on the basis of exceeding the 120 limit.
Some commentators have speculated whether a future pope might wish to restore the hard limit or introduce a new system for limiting numbers — for example, appointing non-voting cardinals more regularly. But for now, the precedent is clear: the 120 rule is more guideline than law, and when it comes to the governance of the Church, popes retain ultimate discretion.
Looking Ahead
As Pope Francis continues his recovery, speculation around a potential conclave remains — for now — speculative. But the attention given to the number and role of cardinal electors underscores a deeper ecclesiological truth: while the Church is founded on eternal principles, many of its practical structures are designed to serve the needs of the present age, and subject to the will of the one entrusted to govern in Christ’s name.
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