Pope Francis died: Who will compete?

Pope Francis died: Who will compete?

Rom, Italien - On April 26, 2025, Pope Francis passed away, which caused Worldwide grief and sympathy. Believers from all over the world accompanied him in Rome or by livestream on his last path. After his death, the Catholic Church, the 1.4 billion registered members, is faced with a new challenge: looking for a successor. The new pope is chosen from a Kobilave in which most of the cardinals were appointed. This selection could significantly influence the direction of the church.

The Catholic Church also faces a variety of challenges. The majority of the cardinals entitled to vote live outside of Europe, a continent in which the number of church members is steadily falling. There are different expectations of the new Pope: Conservatives want a traditional approach, while progressive faster reforms are demanding. The middle, on the other hand, is looking for compensation between the two poles.

cardinals from different regions

Currently 135 of the 252 cardinals under 80 and are therefore entitled to vote. Of these 135 eligible voters, 108 were appointed by Francis, while the rest of the pontificates come. The international perspective becomes clear, because the cardinals entitled to vote come not only from Europe, but also from Asia, Latin America, Africa, North America and Oceania. This diversity could play a crucial role in choosing the new Pope. Most cardinals entitled to vote come from southern Europe, but there is an increasing influence of cardinals from less noticeable countries such as Tonga and Cape Verde. These had previously played a marginal role in the decision -making processes of the Church, specified by the appointment of cardinals by Francis.

The Munich archbishop Reinhard Marx, who recently broke his shoulder, nevertheless expressed the desire to be present at the conclave, even if it has to be transported on a bahr. Dirhg Kammer is a sign of commitment and will among the cardinals to take this important decision for the church. It remains unclear whether the one who died out because of a financial scandal Cardinal Angelo Becciu Another cardinal canceled for health reasons, and in the meantime, others got permission to travel to Rome to take part in the important conversations.

the political context and the challenges

The pre -concrete has already started. Daily general meetings of cardinals take place to exchange experiences and debate the current Situation of the church. There is talk of the moods and hopes of cardinals that become clear in the informal discussions. However, there are also fears whether the cardinals can find a consensus or whether a candidate could be chosen from the "edges".

The Catholic Church is not only criticized, but despite these challenges, has a strong attraction. The new Pope is also measured by its role model: decency, peace and improving the quality of life of people are central issues. Francis was known for his critical views of capitalism and the ecological crisis, and it remains to be seen to what extent the next Pope will take up and strengthen these issues.