Who Will Be the Next Pope? Latest Updates because the Conclave Begins

Pope Francis‘ death called for a day of mourning on April 21, 2025, and his funeral on April 26. The late pontiff died just hours after he delivered his yearly Easter prayer and meeting with American Vice President JD Vance on the holiday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the pope’s dying in a observation shared via the Vatican. He stated, “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized.”

As Italy mourns, the query now turns to who will be successful him. With the conclave underway, all eyes are at the Vatican because the cardinals acquire to elect the following pope. Below, practice updates on how the Vatican strikes ahead and who will probably be selected as the following chief of the Catholic Church.

How Old Was Pope Francis?

Francis was once 88 years outdated when he died.

How Did Pope Francis Die?

According to Francis’ dying certificates, his reason for dying was once because of cerebral stroke, coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory cave in along with a “previous episode of acute respiratory failure in bilateral multimicrobial pneumonia, multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension and type II diabetes.” A cerebral stroke is when there’s a lack of blood go with the flow to the mind, and an irreversible cardiocirculatory cave in implies that he had a unexpected failure of the guts to take care of blood go with the flow, in keeping with ABC News.

Francis died after scuffling with a collection of illnesses, maximum of them being respiratory-related problems. In his 20s, the overdue pope had one a part of one among his lungs got rid of. Years later, in 2023, he gained clinical remedy for bronchitis, however in early 2025 when he was once recognized with bilateral pneumonia.

Throughout the rest of his existence, Francis additionally underwent intestinal surgical procedure, disposing of a part of his colon to regulate diverticulitis (a situation that reasons irritation within the colon), and he walked with a cane and used a wheelchair because of a knee situation.

What Happens When the Pope Dies?

Shortly after a pope dies, a funeral is held. Francis licensed for his coffin to be open at St. Peter’s Basilica in order that the general public will pay its respects. Next, the College of Cardinals will have to make a choice who the following pope will probably be in an election referred to as the conclave. Until a majority of the votes lift the election, the College of Cardinals governs the Church in the meanwhile of the overdue pope’s dying and the collection of a brand new pontiff.

In earlier centuries, the conclave has lasted days to months. Usually, even though, it lasts a number of days.

Who Will Be the Next Pope?

Usually, probably the most cardinals turns into the following pope, and they generally tend to want a European to be successful. At the time of newsletter, the cardinals have begun their assembly for the vote casting procedure. As of May 8, 2025, no pope has been elected but, as black smoke has emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

The following names are the conceivable applicants for who would be the subsequent pope, in keeping with Reuters and Associated Press:

• Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, 66 years outdated, French
• Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, 72 years outdated, Hungarian
• Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary normal of the Synod of Bishops, 68 years outdated, Maltese
• Cardinal Juan Jose Omella, archbishop of Barcelona, 79 years outdated, Spanish
• Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican diplomat, 70 years outdated, Italian
• Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle; Pro-Prefect, Dicastery for Evangelization underneath Francis, 67 years outdated; Filipino
• Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, N.J., 72 years outdated, American
• Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Vatican legit; 76 years outdated; Ghanaian
• Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, 69 years outdated, Italian
• Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Congolese, Archbishop of Kinshasa, 65 years outdated