Following the death of Pope Francis, the 2025 Papal Conclave commenced on May 7. The Conclave process of electing a new pope to succeed Francis is still underway.
133 eligible cardinal electors were in attendance for the first day of the conclave, and 89 votes are necessary for the two-thirds majority vote to determine a successor.
To uphold papal tradition, cardinals were given at least fifteen days after the death of the Pope to convene and determine when to begin the conclave election process.
The Conclave, taking place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, “will remain closed to visitors during those days.” (Vatican News)
The Conclave was “preceded by a solemn Eucharistic celebration with the votive Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice attended by the Cardinal electors.” (Vatican News)
After the precedential Mass, the electors made their way to the Sistine Chapel in a “solemn procession” where the Conclave began to elect the new Pope. (Vatican News)
The Conclave requires absolute faith by the cardinal electors, in an oath to fulfill the “Munus Petrinum as Pastor of the Universal Church.” (Vatican News)
During the Conclave, the cardinal electors are also sworn to secrecy regarding any information about the Papal candidates and the election process.
The Conclave election procedures take place solely within the Sistine Chapel, which remains completely sealed and blocked off until the end of the Conclave election.
Cardinal electors are essentially blocked off from the outside world during this election process, and are not to engage in any sending or receiving of messages, newspapers and other press of the sort, and cannot “follow radio or television broadcasts.” (Vatican News)
After day one of the election process, there has yet to be a decision on the successor of Pope Francis. Still looking at and pondering the candidates in the Conclave election, the Cardinal electors remain undecisive.
Considering Pope Francis’s progressive approach in office, questions remain of whether his progressive ideas and works of change will be seen with the new Pope that is elected.
With these questions in mind, here are some of the leading candidates in this Papal Conclave race.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a “liberal Filipino with a commitment to social justice that has prompted some to call him the ‘Asian Francis.’ ” (USA Today)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin is a “longtime Vatican dipolmat,” is regarrded as a moderate and served as the secreetary of state for Francis. (USA Today)
Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary is a conservative theologian, who was a candidate in the last Papal Coclave,
Ccardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, who could become the first African pope in over 1,500 years.
Though these are merely a few of the leading candidates in the 2025 Papal Conclave, the other contenders are strong possibilities for fulfilling the role of the Pope.
Currently, there has been no decision made regaerding who will be the successor of Pope Francis, and the election process is being closely watched to determine who will be taking over as sovereign leader of the Catholic Church.
With a lasting legacy of social justice and progressive care for the poor and marginalized, Pope Francis left behind opportunity to maintain those valuees that has made the late Pope so beloved.