Meet the Top Contenders to Succeed Pope Francis: Biographies and Key Facts
With teh Passing of Pope Francis, Leader of the World’s Catholics, Media Speculation on His Potential Successor Narrows to 5 Key Names
According to a report by the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, the Collage of Cardinals in the Catholic Church—which began its work in 315 AD—holds the highest position among Christians after the Pope. This assembly consists of bishops who are among the closest advisors and deputies to the Pope.
The cardinals considered most likely to assume leadership of the Catholic Church are referred to by an Italian term as “papabile,” meaning “having suitability for becoming Pope.” However, this title does not hold an official position within the Vatican.
A new Pope is typically chosen after a papal passing through a gathering of cardinals who convene in a confidential and secretive meeting.This assembly…The process may last several days, and during this time, none of the cardinals can leave the meeting until a new pope is elected. The announcement of the pope’s selection is made to the public waiting outside through white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel.
According to ancient Catholic Church tradition, the pope is buried between the fourth and sixth day after death, and official public mourning continues for nine days. The College of Cardinals elects a new pope within 15 to 20 days. The chosen candidate must secure two-thirds of the votes from those present in the conclave. Currently, five key figures are considered potential successors to Pope Francis:
1- Pietro Parolin
He serves as Vatican Secretary of State and is one of the most prominent cardinals in the Catholic Church.Born on January 17, 1955, in Schiavon in Italy’s northern Vicenza province, he grew up in a devout and humble family—his father was a small-town merchant…His father was an agricultural worker, and his mother was a primary school teacher.Caroline lost his father at the age of 10 and endured a challenging childhood. Alongside his brother and sister, he took on the obligation of supporting the family.
From early childhood, he developed an interest in religious principles. After completing high school in literature,he pursued religious studies in ideology and theology. On April 27, 1980, Arnoldo Onisto ordained him as a priest in the Vicenza region, marking the beginning of Barolin’s activities in the vatican. He later moved to Rome to continue his academic studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, eventually earning a master’s degree in canon law in 1986.He has served in Nigeria and Mexico and undertaken critically important international missions, such as being dispatched as a Cardinal to Rwanda in 1993 and serving as a member of the Vatican delegation at the United Nations General Assembly in 1997. In 2002, he began his role as Secretary of the Vatican’s Public Relations Section, working to strengthen Vatican-Vietnam relations and sustain dialog between Zionist and Palestinian parties.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as an advisory bishop and his representative in Venezuela, where he made considerable efforts to enhance church-state relations and promote social justice in the country. Pope Francis selected him as Vatican Secretary in 2013. Barolin has engaged extensively on issues related to peace and human rights, striving to foster cooperation among various governments, particularly in the Middle East.
barolin became a Cardinal in february 2014 and was appointed Cardinal Bishop General in 2018. Pope Francis named him a member [of…] (translation cuts off here).The Pope Extends the Term of Vatican Cardinals’ Assembly
2. Péter Erdő
Péter Erdő is a Hungarian cardinal and the head of Hungary’s bishops. He was born on june 25, 1952, in Budapest, Hungary, into a Catholic family. In 1975, he was ordained as a priest in Budapest and served in the Dorog parish between 1975 and 1977. He earned his doctorate in theology in 1976 and later obtained another doctorate in canon law in 1980.
From 1988 to 2003, Erdő worked as a professor at Catholic universities and served as dean of the Faculty of Advanced Studies in Canon Law. Pope John Paul II appointed him…He was appointed honorary bishop of the Catholic Church in the city of Bobbio,Italy. later, he became the head of Hungary’s bishops and a year later attained the rank of cardinal.
In 2005 and 2010, he served as president of the Hungarian Bishops’ Conference for five years, and in 2006 and 2011, he was elected president of the Council of European Bishops. He hosted Europe’s Catholic-Orthodox dialogues in 2008.
Erdő has received numerous honorary awards and degrees, including an honorary doctorate from the Catholic Academy in Paris in 1996, an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of lublin in 2000, and an honorary doctorate from Munich University in 2007. He opposes granting priesthood to those who marry,considering it a essential part of Christian evangelization. He supports hierarchical church organization and places special emphasis on missionary activities and youth ministry.
In May…He considers wages the right of every human being but has warned about the dangers of integrating refugees into various societies. He supports interfaith dialogues between Christianity and other religions and holds a positive stance toward Islam.
3. Luis Antonio Tagle
Luis Antonio Tagle is one of the most prominent bishops in the Philippines, having attained the highest positions in the Catholic Church. He is regarded as one of the highest-ranking Catholic clergy in contemporary Philippines and has been given the title “Francis of Asia.” In 2022 and 2024, he was named the most influential figure in Asia and the Philippines.
Born on June 21, 1957, in Manila, Philippines, he…The family of the newly elected pope was originally from a wealthy Chinese family that had migrated to the Philippines. He initially wanted to become a doctor but later entered the field of philosophy and theology, eventually traveling to the Ateneo de Manila University for his studies, where he earned degrees in psychology and chemical engineering.
In 1942, he was ordained and later traveled to America, receiving his doctorate in theology there in 1947. He then pursued further education in collective leadership training. In 2011, Tagle became Archbishop of Manila, and Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the rank of cardinal in November 2012.
in 2019, he moved to Vatican City and became the head of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples—one of the most significant administrative bodies within the vatican. Pope Francis appointed him as cardinal-elect in 2020, making him the frist Asian individual chosen for this position. A year later, he joined membership councils within various governing bodies…The following is the English translation of the provided Persian (Farsi) news article, adhering strictly to your guidelines:
—
Francis calls for Financial Transparency in Vatican
Pope Francis, in 2024, appointed himself as a special envoy to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.He also oversees the pontifical Council for social Communications and is responsible for the Vatican’s media office. His leadership emphasizes moderation and opposes hardline stances within the Vatican regarding LGBTQ+ issues.
4- Matteo Zuppi
Matteo Maria Zuppi was born on October 11, 1955. He graduated with degrees in Literature and Philosophy from Sapienza University of Rome in 1977 before pursuing religious studies at the Pontifical Lateran University. In 1981, he was ordained as a priest in the Basilica of St.Agatha of the Goths. In 2000, he became titular bishop of this basilica and served in this role for a decade. In 1992, he played a key mediating role in peace negotiations during…The Vatican had an internal dispute. Pope Benedict XVI,in 2006,bestowed the honorary title of “Cardinal” upon him in recognition of his services to the Church.
[Image: Familiarity with the most important biographical details of Pope Francis + his life story]From 1995 to 2010, he served as the head of the diocese in Rome’s Third District.In January 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the honorary archbishop of Florence and a cardinal advisor. In December 2015, he entered the College of Cardinals and received the title of “Cardinal” on October 5, 2019. On March 22, 2022, he was elected president of Italy’s Episcopal conference and also became a judge at the Vatican’s Supreme Court in 2023.
Zubi focused particularly on human values such as solidarity and religious tolerance and gave special priority to…Isolated groups, including migrants, are among his focuses. These tendencies have lead some in Italy to label him as part of the “left-wing current,” to the extent that certain local Italian media outlets mocked him when he was appointed cardinal.
His relationship with Giulio Malagaldi, one of the most prominent Freemasons in Italy, has also stirred controversy. In 2020,malagaldi explicitly stated that Zubi is one of the most important cardinals he endorses and admires. Another contentious stance of Zubi is his acceptance of homosexuals in the Church without requiring repentance or a commitment to change their lifestyle—a position that has drawn heavy criticism from conservative factions within the Vatican Church.
5 – Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke, an American cardinal, was born on June 30, 1948, in Richland Centre, Wisconsin. He was the youngest child in a Catholic family…He completed his education at Holy Cross academy in La Crosse. He continued his studies at The Catholic University of America and then went to Italy, where he studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning his doctorate in canon law.
Pope Paul VI appointed him as the head of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker on June 29, 1975. In 2003, he became Archbishop of St. Louis and remained in this position until 2008. that same year, Pope Benedict XVI selected him as the head of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church.He was elevated to cardinal in 2010 and, in 2013, was appointed by Pope Francis as a member of the College of cardinals.In 2014, he was appointed as his personal representative to the Catholic institution Order of Malta, but due to disagreements between him and the Vatican, he was removed from this position in 2023. He has been one of the most prominent opponents of legalizing abortion and also opposes the ordination of women as priests.
