An old saying about papal elections goes as follows: “He who enters the conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal.” In other words, any candidate perceived as the frontrunner before the voting commences should be approached with caution, and no cardinal should enter the Sistine Chapel assuming they will secure the votes.
At the 2013 conclave, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan emerged as a strong contender. The Italian bishops were so confident in his election that after the white smoke emerged from the Vatican chimney, a senior Italian church official sent a message to reporters expressing joy over Scola’s selection. However, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio had already been named pope.
This conclave holds immense significance in determining the future trajectory of the Roman Catholic Church. The field of candidates is vast due to Pope Francis’ reforms.
During his pontificate, Francis underwent a profound transformation of the body responsible for electing his successor, making it more representative of the global church.
He abolished the antiquated, unwritten rulebook that automatically conferred cardinalship on bishops of certain dioceses, particularly in Italy. Instead, he bestowed red hats upon bishops in regions that had never previously held such an honor, such as Tonga, Haiti, and Papua New Guinea. Several of these bishops are “outsiders” to the Roman system, making it challenging to predict their voting preferences.
Nevertheless, only a select few cardinals possess the requisite skills, experience, and personality suitable for leading the Roman Catholic Church.
The electors will need to carefully consider the church’s priorities and the profile of the potential successor. They will also need to assess whether the next pope should continue the reforms initiated by Francis or chart a different course.
The electors will seek a leader capable of guiding a global church and providing credible moral leadership on the world stage. Some envision the church’s future in Asia, leading to speculation that the next pope could hail from Southeast Asia.
Age is also a factor, as the last two conclaves opted for older popes to ensure shorter pontificates.
Papal candidates are known as “papabile” or translated from the Italian, “pope-able.” The vast majority of the papabile were appointed by Pope Francis, although two were chosen by Benedict XVI. Here are some of the contenders.
Along with the frontrunners, other candidates might also emerge.
CNN
