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| Late Pope Francis |
Following the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church is preparing for a conclave to elect his successor. While the process is shrouded in secrecy, 15 cardinals have been identified as potential frontrunners, often referred to as 'papabili'.
Here's a regional breakdown of these individuals:
From Europe:
* Pietro Parolin (Italy), 70: The Vatican's Secretary of State, known for his diplomatic skills and instrumental role in the Vatican-China agreement. He is currently considered a leading candidate.
* Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), 60: The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, a key Catholic figure in the Middle East who has advocated for peace in the region.
* Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy), 69: The Archbishop of Bologna, known for his work with the Sant'Egidio community, his diplomatic efforts (including as a peace envoy for Ukraine), and his advocacy for the marginalized.
* Claudio Gugerotti (Italy), 69: An expert on the Eastern Churches and a multilingual diplomat who has served as nuncio in several countries.
* Jean-Marc Aveline (France), 66: The Archbishop of Marseille, known for his advocacy for migrants and interreligious dialogue, mirroring some of Pope Francis's priorities.
* Anders Arborelius (Sweden), 75: The Bishop of Stockholm and Sweden's first cardinal, a convert to Catholicism in a secular nation and a defender of Church doctrine.
* Mario Grech (Malta), 68: The Bishop emeritus of Gozo and the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, seen as a potential compromise candidate.
* Peter Erdo (Hungary), 72: The Metropolitan Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, a respected canon law expert with connections to the Hungarian government.
* Jean-Claude Hollerich (Luxembourg), 66: The Archbishop of Luxembourg, a Jesuit like Pope Francis, with expertise in European-Asian cultural relations and an openness to the Church adapting to societal changes.
From Asia:
* Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), 67: The Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila, a charismatic moderate known for his advocacy for the poor and marginalized and his willingness to address the Church's shortcomings.
* Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), 76: The Archbishop of Yangon and the first cardinal from Myanmar, known for his advocacy for dialogue, reconciliation, and the rights of the Rohingya community.
From Africa:
* Peter Turkson (Ghana), 76: The Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast, an influential African cardinal who has been a papal envoy and mediator.
* Robert Sarah (Guinea), 79: A former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, seen as a conservative voice who could appeal to those seeking a return to traditional practices.
* Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of Congo), 65: The Archbishop of Kinshasa and a member of Pope Francis's advisory council, known for his outspoken conservative views and his belief in Africa's central role in the Church's future.
From America:
* Robert Francis Prevost (United States), 69: The Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo and the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, with years of missionary experience in Peru.
* Timothy Dolan (United States), 75: The Archbishop of New York, a theologically conservative figure who has worked to connect with the Hispanic community.
Credit: Naija News
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