Who is the current Camerlengo? Details about the interim administrator and potential successors explored as Pope Francis dies at 88

Pope Francis had appointed Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell as the Camerlengo on February 14, 2019. The main role of the Camerlengo is to manage the Vatican's day-to-day operations when a pope dies or resigns, until a new pope is elected. His responsibilities also include officially confirming the pope's death.

Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, and the Catholic Church has officially entered a period known as Sede Vacante, which means "the seat being vacant" in Latin.

While the Vatican prepares for Pope Francis' funeral, and a closed-door meeting to elect a successor, the Camerlengo, will assume the role of interim administrator, leading the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal Farrell, is an Irish-born prelate, who will oversee the conclave preparation where discussions of electing a new pope will be held. Currently, he also acts as the President of the Pontificial Comission for Confidential Matters, Cardinal-Deacon of San Giuliano Martire, Chair of the Pontificial Committee for Investments and President of the Vatican City State Supreme Court.

Who are the potential successors of Pope Francis?

As per Reuters, there are nine candidates who are being talked about as papabili to succeed Pope Francis.

1. Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, France: Aged 66, Aveline is known in some domestic Catholic circles as John XXIV, as per the French Press, for his resemblance to Pope John XXII. Pope Francis once quipped that his successor might be of the name John XXIV. He was born in Algeria, to a family of Spanish immigrants, and grew up in Marseille.
2. Cardinal Peter Erdo, Hungary: Erdo was previously considered a papal contender in the 2013 conclave. Erdo is an expert in Church law, became a bishop in his 40s and a cardinal at 51 in 2003, making him the youngest member of the College of Cardinals until 2010.
3. Cardinal Mario Grech, Malta: Grech is the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, and is from Gozo, a tiny island in Malta. Grech is popular for being more accepting of LGBT members.
4. Cardinal Juan Jose Omella, Spain: Juan Jose is the archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. He was ordained in 1970, and a bishop in 1996, before becoming the archbishop in 2015.
5. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Italy: Parolin is a Vatical diplomat, and served as Pope Francis' secretary of state since 2013. He previously served as deputy foreign minister under Pope Benedict.
6. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Phillippines: Also known as the "Asian Francis", if elected, Tagle would be the first pontiff from Asia. Pope Benedict made him a cardinal in 2012. From 2015 to 2022, Tagle was the top leader of Caritas Internationalis.
7. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, USA: Tobin is the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, and would be the first ever U.S pope, if elected. He had served a stint as second-in-commend of a Vatican office from 2009 - 2012.
8. Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Ghana: If elected, Turkson would be the first pope from Sub-Sahara Africa. He was born in Wassaw, Nsuta, in what was then the Gold Coast in the British Empire.
9. Matteo Maria Zuppi, Italy: Zuppi, 69, became the archbishop of Bologna in 2015, and was called the "Italian Bergoglio."

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The conclave is anticipated to commence in May, 2025.

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