Meet the 15 Cardinals Vying to Succeed Pope Francis, Including Two Africans

 Following Pope Francis’s death on April 21, 2025, at age 88, the race to succeed him as leader of 1.4 billion Catholics has begun, with two African cardinals and 13 others emerging as frontrunners.

 The African contenders are Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76, from Ghana. Ambongo, a Capuchin and president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa, is known for rejecting Francis’s same-sex blessing doctrine, appealing to conservatives. 

Turkson, a vocal advocate on climate and poverty, could be the first Black pope in centuries, per Fox News. The 13 other potential successors include: Pietro Parolin (Italy, 70), Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy, 69), Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines, 67), Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy, 59), Jean-Marc Aveline (France, 66), Claudio Gugerotti (Italy, 69), Péter Erdő (Hungary, 72), Mario Grech (Malta, 67), Wim Eijk (Netherlands, 71), Anders Arborelius (Sweden, 75), Jean-Claude Hollerich (Luxembourg, 67), José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça (Portugal, 59), and Raymond Burke (USA, 76). 

Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, is a moderate “continuity” pick, while Tagle, a Filipino, could be the first Asian pope. The conclave, set for May 6-10 in the Sistine Chapel, will see 138 cardinals under 80 vote, with 80% appointed by Francis, tilting toward progressives.