Next papal conclave

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Papal conclave
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Dates and location
Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace,
Vatican City
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The next papal conclave will occur after the death or resignation of Pope Francis.

Contents

Speculation

The next conclave saw speculation in February and March 2025 after Francis developed double pneumonia. [1]

Papabili

The conclave cardinals may elect any baptized Catholic male, [2] [3] but since 1389 they have always elected a fellow cardinal. Observers of papal elections tend to consider a few cardinals more likely choices than the others – these are the papabili, the plural for papabile , an Italian word which is practically rendered into English as "pope-able". Inasmuch as the set of papabili is a matter of speculation from the press, the election of a non-papabile is common; recent cases are John XXIII in 1958, John Paul I and John Paul II, both in 1978.

Pietro Parolin of Italy, [4] Robert Sarah of Guinea, [4] and Luis Tagle of the Philippines [4] are among the cardinals most often identified in press reports as those most likely to be elected.

Papal election process

Next papal conclave
Eligible electors by region as of 1 March 2025
  Italy
17
  Rest of Europe
36
  Asia
24
  North America
20
  South America
18
  Africa
18
  Oceania
4
Total electors137

Cardinals aged 80 years or older before the day the papacy fell vacant will be ineligible to participate. As of 1 March 2025, there are 252 cardinals of whom 137 are aged under 80. Since the Romano Pontifici eligendo , a maximum of 120 cardinals can participate in a conclave; it is unclear how they will be chosen when the number of eligible cardinals exceeds 120. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Toth, Albert. "What is a Conclave? Process to select a Pope explained as Francis undergoes hospital treatment". The Independent.
  2. ↑ Thavis, John (February 2013). "Election of New Pope Follows Detailed Procedure". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 14 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  3. ↑ Technically Nicholas II's In Nomine Domini bull of 1059 laid down that the electors could choose from "another church" if there was no suitable candidate within the Roman church.
  4. 1 2 3 Oreglia, Carlo. "'Pressure to reach a quick decision': How the papal succession process works". SBS. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Here's how a conclave elects a new pope". CBC News. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
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