NewStats: 3,261,719 , 8,174,909 topics. Date: Friday, 30 May 2025 at 09:58 AM 5s6m28

FOLLOWING the death of Pope Francis on the morning of Easter Monday, attention turns to the question of his successor.

Francis led the Catholic church for 12 years, right up until his death at 88 - as is tradition.

The Vatican paid tribute to their former leader with a statement that hailed his "faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised".

It continued: “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.″

After the nine days of mourning have been observed - during which time Francis will be buried - the papal conclave will begin in order to select a successor.

All 252 cardinals from around the world will travel to Rome for the secret ballot, in which a maximum of 115 can vote.

When a candidate has two thirds of the vote, they will be appointed Pope through a pontifical coronation.

Here are the 8 front-runners:

CARDINAL LUIS TAGLE



Tagle, 67, has been dubbed the "Asian Pope Francis", because his views largely align with the late Pontiff.

He has criticised the Church's "severe" stance on gay people, divorcees and single mothers.

Tagle is the seventh cardinal ever from the Philippines and, if picked, would become the first Asian Pope.


CARDINAL FRIDOLIN AMBONGO BESUNGU



Besungu, 65, is a Congolese cardinal who has publicly clashed with Francis in the past.

He rejected a decree from Francis that the church should give its blessing to homosexual couples, arguing it "cannot be carried out in Africa without [Christians] exposing themselves to scandals".

He effectively declared the doctrine, called Fiducia supplicans, null and void on the African continent.

If Besungu - the youngest of the front-runners - was elected as Pope, his leadership would likely force a U-turn on much of Francis's work.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN



Italian Parolin, 70, is currently the Vatican's Secretary of State, and has been a bookies' favourite to don the robe since last November.

He treads the middle ground on most political questions facing the Church, and has spent years abroad in Nigeria and Mexico as a diplomat.

Parolin would be seen as an extension of Francis's legacy.

CARDINAL WIM EIJK


Eijk, 71, is a former doctor and one of the most conservative cardinals with their hat in the ring.

The Dutchman once wrote that remarrying is "a form of structured and institutionalised adultery", and has sharply criticised Francis's view on the matter.

The cardinal also slammed the late Pope's decision to allow Protestants to receive bread and wine in Catholic churches as "completely incomprehensible".


CARDINAL RAYMOND BURKE



Cardinal Raymond BurkeCredit: The College of Cardinals Report

Burke, 76, is another unwavering conservative, who believes strongly in the traditions of Latin Mass.

Hailing from Wisconsin, USA, Burke doesn't believe that people who have divorced and remarried should be allowed to receive Holy Communion.

He also branded as "objectionable" the Church's reformed approach to gay people, civil marriages and contraception.


CARDINAL PETER ERDO



Erdo, 72, is a former President of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe - a group of 33 leading Bishops from the continent.

The Hungarian is a devout Marian, which means he directs his religious practices towards Mary, mother of Jesus.

He is known for being a Conservative voice within the Church, and is against divorced or remarried Catholics partaking in Holy Communion.

He has made some controversial claims in his time, including likening taking in refugees to human trafficking.

The distinguished cardinal is fluent in Hungarian, English, Italian, French and Latin.


CARDINAL MATTEO ZUPPI



Italian Cardinal Zuppi, 69, is known to be a favourite of the current Pope Francis, who in 2023 asked him to carry out a mission to bring peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Zuppi met with Zelenksy, but not Putin - and later in the year flew to the US to meet President Biden.

He has been the president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022.

The cardinal holds much more progressive views than many of his peers, writing in book in 2018 that the Church should seek dialogue and understanding with "our LGBT brothers and sisters".


CARDINAL MARIO GRECH



Grech, 67, from Malta, is considered a moderate voice within the Church.

He has spoken about the importance of reaching out to communities that feel rejected by the Church due to the sexuality or marriage status.

He was elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020.

How will the next Pope be chosen?

THE next Pope is chosen through a process called a papal conclave, which takes place after the current Pope dies or resigns.

Here's how it works:

The College of Cardinals is summoned to the Vatican

The cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel and vote by a secret ballot

They will prepare for the papal elections - called a conclave

These Catholic leaders will vote once on the first days and four times a day on each additional day

This vote will continue until one candidate gets two-thirds of the vote

The nominee must then accept the offer and choose their new papal name

This outcome will be confirmed to the public when white smoke burns out of the Sistine Chapel chimney.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/14069620/next-pope-candidates-cardinals-death/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sunyoutubestories

Give it to cardina Besungu. He deserve it much with his records.
F
T
C
Pls Mr Osewa, my FTC price, how will I collect it ?

Damn!

Ain't no fan of religion but where's Arinze? The one from Onitsha and currently 92?

Among the 8 front-runners, the strongest candidates seem to be:

1. Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Why?

He’s Italian — traditionally, Italians have historically been favored (most popes were Italian before John Paul II broke the trend in 1978).

He’s already the Vatican’s Secretary of State, meaning he is extremely powerful, trusted, and experienced in Church diplomacy.

He is a moderate, meaning he can appeal to both conservatives and progressives — very important when trying to unite cardinals from very different parts of the world.

Bookmakers and Vatican watchers have been tipping him for a while, meaning inside information s his chances.


Risk? Some cardinals might want a more "global" Pope (like an African, Asian, or Latin American) instead of another European.

2. Cardinal Luis Tagle

Why?

He’s known as the "Asian Pope Francis," meaning he shares the late Pope’s softer, comionate approach.

If the cardinals want to continue Francis's legacy, Tagle would be a natural choice.

Choosing him would make him the first Asian Pope, sending a strong signal about the global nature of the Church (Asia has huge Catholic populations, especially in the Philippines).

He is well-liked personally — humble, media-friendly, and speaks good English.


Risk? Some very conservative cardinals may find him too liberal, and his relatively younger age (67) could mean a long reign — which not every voting cardinal wants.

3. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi

Why?

Italian, again (location helps).

Very close to Pope Francis and seen as his "spiritual son."

A bridge-builder: he worked on peace missions (Russia-Ukraine peace initiative), which shows diplomatic skills.

Progressive on LGBTQ and marginalized groups — which would continue Francis’s tone.


Risk? Some conservatives in the conclave might resist him because of his liberal positions.

Less likely candidates:

Cardinal Burke and Cardinal Eijk are too hardline conservative — the majority of cardinals today were appointed by Pope Francis, who leaned more moderate and liberal.

Cardinal Besungu has strong African but his outright opposition to Pope Francis's teachings might hurt him in this conclave.

Cardinal Erdo is strong but has made some very controversial statements (especially about refugees) that could alienate moderate voters.

Cardinal Grech is respected but a bit too "low-key" compared to others.

If I had to bet, Cardinal Parolin is the most likely winner.
If cardinals want continuity with a global flavor, Luis Tagle could be a surprise pick.
If they want an Italian with strong Francis ties but not too radical, Zuppi is right there.

No matter how much Jesus love and use black people, he can never make a black man pope.

Even if the tithe and offering of black people is as much as the grains of sand on earth, the Christian god will never let a black man become pope.

The best is having an African pope for the first time, who will change alot of some damages that has already been established like the way marriage and the likes..

But I don't see that coming soon because they believe we African don't joke with pur culture...

I'm a confirmed catholic, before some people will come for me

Hmmm

CARDINAL LUIS TAGLE


After reading about all of their experience, accomplishment, world and political stance, Luis is the best for the world.

This last pope is hard to convince us he was christ led. Many of his policies were antichrist in nature. May God help them to choose the right one with less controversial policies

Why won't they just give it to the youngest Cardinal Besungu who may likely be in the post longer due to his age and would be the first African pope? It would have been nice, sentiments aside

But whats with the opening statement that he publicly clashed with Pope Francis? Is it a ploy to disqualify him already

Any of them that is Elected, Jesusjnr and some Know it all Christians would still tag him Anti-Christ.

Cardinal Peter Obi is best fit for this role

After hoping Cardinal Arinze stood a chance after Pope John Paul died

Not sure any African stands a chance at all

Hopefully the selection or election process would be free, fair and credible

Make dem give Nigeriaan

People that matters already know the next Pope..

Nah selection..

If they snub Africans this time, let them segregate from ndi Italy and be on their own. Cardinal Arinze was robbed sometime ago and the African Catholics kept mute

Righthussle:

No matter how much Jesus love and use black people, he can never make a black man pope.

Even if the tithe and offering of black people is as much as the grains of sand on earth, a black man will never become pope.

I was Banned last week for making dis ur Comment.

When you see how David Ibiyeomie and other Pastors focus on Money teachings,
how can you Trust an African for such a position?

Righthussle:

No matter how much Jesus love and use black people, he can never make a black man pope.

Even if the tithe and offering of black people is as much as the grains of sand on earth, a black man will never become pope.

If you are in church because the leader looks like you, you are not a serious christian

Same goes for white people who feel.like they are belonging to the Catholic.chruch because most of the popes where white.

Jesus is supposed to be the true leader of the catholic church. And he says follow me.

This does not excuse any racist behavior. But appointing black pope won't erase racism at all. It's a much bigger job.

A black man can not be pope because black Africans as a whole are not emancipated.

A black man as pope will bring his tradition into the papal office.

Be sure rituals and ritualist and native doctors will start to thrive.

The way leadership is done in Nigeria is an example.

why is jagaban not there?
me I want jagaban as d next papal!



Go baba
Go baba
Go baba

vote Jagaban as next pope!

VinnyBaba:


I was Banned last week for making dis ur Comment.

When you see how David Ibiyeomie and other Pastors focus on Money teachings,
how can you Trust an African for such a position?

If you know the number of white prosperity preachers who have said worse than pastor David...you no go speak like this.

Stop hating your race.

Pastor David is still a heretical preacher though

BlackViper:


https://www.the-sun.com/news/14069620/next-pope-candidates-cardinals-death/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sunyoutubestories

Still can't believe these guys didn't have sex all throughout their life. Lailai

The chances of that black man is 0.0000001%

See everyone being sentimental about BLACK MAN 😅.

THEY SHOULD KUKUMA MAKE TINUBU POPE.

A BLACK MAN WAS THE FIRST BLACK AMERICAN PRESIDENT ( THE BIGGEST NATION IN THE WORLD) WHAT DID HE DO TO AMERICAN AND THE BLACKS THERE WHAT WAS HIS IMPACT TO AFRICA AND AMERICAN AT LARGE

RATHER SPONSORED TERRORISM, ISLAMIST EXTREMIST AND INCREASED POVERTY TO AFRICA.

FORGET ALL THIS BLACK THIS AND BLACK THAT.

A BLACK MAN IS WICKED TO HIS FELLOW BLACK MAN WHEN GIVEN THE POWER.

JUST PRAY FOR A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION AT THE Vatican RATHER THAN THAN BEING SENTIMENTAL ABOUT BLACK MAN SHOULD BE GIVEN POPE.

WHY

BECAUSE BLACK NEVER B POPE BEFORE.. A mistake that may cost the strongest Christian institution to dismantle.

Make una rest with una black man being a pipe.let the Catholics do the needful as it has been done for centuries

wizod:
If they snub Africans this time, let them segregate from ndi Italy and be on their own. Cardinal Arinze was robbed sometime ago and the African Catholics kept mute

Having a black pope does not mean that Jesus has left the headship of the church.

You guys should stop looking for Christianity in your image.

Same goes for the whites and other races. Maybe if we looked to Jesus, church will grow stronger.

I did not excuse racist beliefs and practices o.

I am a Christian but not a catholic. From this article, it is obvious that each pope governs by what he “
thinks” rather than what was written in the bible.

More so, I think Africans will always be subservient to the westerners. Look at all the activities involved in burying a pope and selecting a new pope, if any traditional religion engages in such in Nigeria, most people will call it “occultic” but it is okay now because it is the westerners.

What do you think will happen if it’s Africans that first travelled to other part of the world with their religions ? Don’t you think the westerners will be worshipping Ogun, Sango, Amadioha and other African gods ?. Religion propagation is looking like a case of who “arrived first”.

Look at China, they hold on to their Buddhism, a religion an African man will consider occultic , meanwhile China has the second largest economy. What happens to us here in Nigeria that imports crude oil and religion to other part of the world ? - we are still considered a third world nation.

I think it is the time to think and reflect deeply as Africans.

What of Robert Prevost, an American cardinal? I won't be surprised if it goes to him, maybe he is the reason, bull of America flew to Vatican to attend funeral.

Since it's America first rhetoric.

wizod:
If they snub Africans this time, let them segregate from ndi Italy and be on their own. Cardinal Arinze was robbed sometime ago and the African Catholics kept mute

Lolss,
Nigerians and Complaints of Robbing.

Dat's we claimed Okocha was robbed to favour Samuel Eto.
Or dat Davido was robbed for GRAMMY Awards to favour that Girl Tyla.

And you might be surprised this guy is a Tinibu er o.