Pope Francis passes away at 88: How the next Pope will be elected and who are the frontrunners?

The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, died at the age of 88 at 7:35am (05:35 GMT) on Monday, said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement. The death of 'the people’s pope’ leads to search for new leader of Catholic Church

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, sparking widespread speculation about what comes next for the Church. Elected on March 13, 2013, he rose to the papacy after securing the majority vote from the powerful College of Cardinals.

Now, attention turns to one of the most sacred and closely watched traditions in Catholicism — the election of a new pope.

Here’s a closer look at how the next pope will be chosen.

Vacant Holy See: The process begins as the papal seat, referred to as the Holy See becomes vacant. As the Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis has died the Holy See is now vacant.

Gathering of cardinals: After the seat is vacant the summoning of the cardinals begins, who are the Catholic Church's most senior officials. This gathering is known as Papal Conclave.

There are more than 200 cardinals from around 69 countries, out of which 115 of them are expected to elect the next pope, the Pope will be among the cardinals.

The reason for excluding a minority is due to a rule first introduced in 1975 which excluded cardinals over the age of 80 from casting a vote.

Oath of secrecy: The Papal Conclave will be held in Sistine Chapel, renowned for its breathtaking frescoes, including Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment. Before the voting cardinals take oath of secrecy. Once the oath is taken, all non-essential personnel leave the chapel, and the doors are locked.

Voting process: To elect a pope a two-thirds majority is required. If no one achieves this majority in the early rounds of voting, the process continues until a consensus is reached.

• Ballots: Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a paper ballot.
• Counting: The ballots are collected and counted by designated cardinals. The results are announced to the assembly.
• Burning of Ballots: After each voting round, the ballots are burned in a special stove in the Sistine Chapel. Chemicals are added to the fire to produce smoke: black smoke indicates an inconclusive vote, while white smoke signals that a new pope has been elected.

The newly elected pope is then dressed in the traditional white papal attire. Soon after, the senior cardinal deacon steps out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and declares, Habemus Papam (“We have a pope”). The new pope then makes their first public appearance and delivers the Urbi et Orbi blessing—“To the City and to the World.”

Now let's have a closer at who can be elected as new Pope.

Several senior cardinals from Africa, Asia, and the US are being seen as possible contenders to succeed the pope.

• Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle: He’s considered one of Asia’s top contenders from the Philippines. At 66, Cardinal Tagle is widely respected for his compassionate, people-centered approach and alignment with Pope Francis’ progressive outlook. If chosen he would be the first Pope from Asia, making history.
• Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, from Italy’s Veneto region, has been the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013 and is the highest-ranking cardinal in the conclave. Known for his diplomatic skill and moderate stance, he’s seen as a steady hand to carry forward Pope Francis’ legacy.
• Cardinal Péter Erdő: The 72-year-old Hungarian cardinal, once head of Europe’s bishops’ council, is known for his deep devotion to Mary. He was made a cardinal in 2003 by Pope John Paul II.
• Cardinal Raymond Burke: He is from Wisconsin, was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Known for his strong traditionalist views, he remains a prominent and often outspoken figure in the Church.
• Cardinal Matteo Zuppi: A close ally of Pope Francis, he has led the Italian Bishops’ Conference since May 2022 and is linked to the Sant’Egidio Community, known for its peace and humanitarian efforts.
• Cardinal Wim Eijk: He is a former medical doctor and current Archbishop of Utrecht, was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Known for his conservative views, he's seen as a prominent contender for the papacy.