Who will be the next Pope? here are the contenders to replace Francis

After Pope Francis passed away at 88, the Catholic Church is now preparing to choose his successor. Cardinals from around the world have gathered in Rome for the Papal Conclave, the official process to select a new pope.

Francis was the first Latin American Pope, which was seen as a major shift in the Church’s history. Now, many are wondering if the next pope could be from Africa or Asia. Here are some of the top names being considered:

Peter Turkson (76)

From Ghana, Turkson would be the first black Pope. He was once a top choice back in 2013. He has worked as a peace messenger in South Sudan and believes African views should be respected, though he also thinks anti-gay laws in some countries are too strict.

Luis Antonio Tagle (67)

A former Archbishop from the Philippines, Tagle could become the first Asian Pope. He is popular in betting predictions and seen as open-minded. He has criticized the Church for being too harsh on gay and divorced couples, though he opposes abortion.

Pietro Parolin (70)

Parolin is close to the current Vatican leadership and worked directly with Pope Francis. He is seen as a moderate but not as progressive. Some criticize him for a deal he helped make with China in 2018, which many feel gave in too much to the Chinese government.

Peter Erdo (72)

Erdo is a conservative Archbishop from Hungary. He strongly defends traditional Church teachings and doesn’t support giving communion to divorced or remarried Catholics.

Jose Tolentino (59)

A younger option from Portugal, Tolentino is known for connecting faith with modern culture, encouraging people to understand the Bible through movies and music. He has held several roles in the Vatican.

Matteo Zuppi (69)

Zuppi is the Archbishop of Bologna and was chosen by Pope Francis as a peace envoy for Ukraine. He traveled to Moscow but didn’t make much progress in peace talks. Still, he’s seen as someone who works for unity and peace.

Mario Grech (68)

From Malta, Grech has been a voice for updating the Church’s language when speaking about gay couples and divorced people, though he still holds many traditional views.

Robert Sarah (79)

Sarah is another black candidate born in French Guinea, though his age may be a disadvantage. He is a strong conservative and has warned about the dangers of modern gender ideas and Islamic extremism.

Read More: Pope Francis Passes away: Religious leader dies aged 88