Francis did many things differently from his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Who could replace him after this year's conclave?

Rome

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has died at age 88 from a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis Dies

After a period of mourning and a funeral service for Pope Francis, the Catholic Church will hold its next conclave to elect a new pope. The College of Cardinals will participate in up to four rounds of voting each day until a cardinal garners a two-thirds majority to become the new head of the church. Several notable contenders have emerged as potential successors to Pope Francis.

One candidate is Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdő, the Archbishop of Budapest. Erdő, who has led the Council of European Episcopal Conferences twice, is believed to have substantial backing among European cardinals, which make up the largest voting bloc. Reinhard Marx of Germany is also mentioned as a potential contender; Pope Francis rejected his resignation after Marx offered to step down due to the German Church's mishandling of abuse cases. Conservatives, however, have expressed their skepticism about Marx.

Canadian Mark Olet, a conservative option, led the Vatican's Bishop's Office for over ten years and played a key role in vetting Episcopal candidates globally. Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis' Secretary of State since 2015, is another prominent contender due to his high-ranking position in the Vatican hierarchy and his Latin American experience as a former ambassador to Venezuela.

An American cardinal, Robert Prevost, is considered a long-shot candidate given the US's geopolitical influence, but his role as Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops places him in a significant position. Guinean Robert Serra, a favorite of conservatives, is also seen as a strong candidate; he could become the first African pope, drawing comparisons to John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, a former student of Pope Benedict, possesses the intellectual credentials appealing to conservatives, but he has faced criticism for challenging the Vatican's historical handling of abusers.

Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle is considered Pope Francis' choice for the first Asian pontiff. He was brought to Rome to head the Church's missionary office, which serves much of Asia and Africa. As the conclave draws near, the world anticipates who will be chosen to lead the Catholic Church into its next era.



Who are the possible contenders to replace Pope Francis?

After a nine-day mourning period and funeral for Pope Francis, the Catholic Church will convene the next conclave. Here, the College of Cardinals will gather to elect the church's next head. Four rounds of voting are held each day until a cardinal secures a two-thirds majority. But who are the possible contenders to become the next pontiff? Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdő, the Archbishop of Budapest, is considered a strong candidate. He twice led the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, evidence of his support amongst European cardinals, the largest voting bloc. Germany's Reinhard Marx made headlines when he offered to resign as Archbishop to atone for the German Church's deep failures in handling abuse. Pope Francis rejected the resignation and told him to stay, but conservatives remain sceptical of him. Mark Olet of Canada led the Vatican's influential Bishop's Office for over a decade, overseeing the vetting of Episcopal candidates worldwide. He is seen as more conservative than Pope Francis. Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis' Secretary of State since 2015, is widely seen as a leading contender, given his senior role in the Vatican hierarchy. As a former ambassador to Venezuela, Parolin knows the Latin American Church well. An American Pope has long been seen as unlikely, given the US's geopolitical power, but Chicago-born Robert Prevost could break that taboo. He is the current Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops, in charge of vetting nominations from around the world. Guinean Robert Serra was long considered to have the best chance of becoming the first African Pope. Favoured by conservatives, Serra represents a return to the style of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn was a student of Pope Benedict's and on paper has the intellectual credentials to appeal to conservatives. But he has drawn criticism from within the Vatican for challenging its past inaction against high-ranking abusers. Filipino Luis Tagle would appear to be Pope Francis' pick for the first Asian pontiff. Francis brought him to Rome to lead the Church's missionary office, serving much of Asia and Africa. As the conclave approaches, the world waits to see who will lead the Catholic Church into its next chapter.

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Pope Francis Dies