Pope Francis’ death: The four Indian Cardinals who will help elect the next Pope

The four Indian Cardinals who will vote to elect his successor

As Pope Francis passed away to elect new Pope the 252 cardinals around the globe will gather at Sistine Chapel in Vatican City out of which 135 are eligible to vote at the Papal Conclave.

Among the 135 eligible voters, four Indian cardinals will take part in the papal election.

These include Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Cardinal Anthony Poola, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad. Let's take a closer look to who they.

• Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao (72): He is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Daman, who also serves as President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and heads the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences. As the seventh Patriarch of the East Indies, he has been deeply committed to family ministry, interfaith dialogue, and social justice issues — especially those affecting migrants and the environment.

• Cardinal Cleemis Baselios (64):  He was born Isaac Thottumkal, he currently serves as the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and heads the Archdiocese of Trivandrum. As President of the Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church, he has played a key role in guiding the Church’s spiritual and pastoral direction. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 1986, became a bishop on August 15, 2001, and was appointed to the College of Cardinals on November 24, 2012.
•   Cardinal Anthony Poola (63): He is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad, his elevation to the College of Cardinals marked a historic moment. He became India’s first Dalit Cardinal, a powerful symbol of hope and progress in the fight against caste-based inequality.
• Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad (51): He serves as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, playing a key role in fostering mutual respect and understanding among the world’s major faiths. As Cardinal-Deacon of S. Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia, he represents a younger generation of Church leadership, deeply committed to building bridges across religious and cultural divides.

Black smoke rising from the chimney indicates that no consensus has been reached, while white smoke signals the successful election of a new pope, marking a pivotal moment for Catholics around the globe.

Who are Cardinals? 

A cardinal is a senior official in the Roman Catholic Church who plays a vital role in guiding its global mission. Tasked with electing the pope, they also serve as key advisors to the pontiff and help govern the Church through various leadership roles. Many cardinals oversee major dioceses, lead departments within the Vatican’s administration, and represent the pope in diplomatic and spiritual missions around the world.