Who will be the next Pope and how are they chosen? All you need to know as Pope Francis passes at 88

On April 21, 2025, the Vatican released a video statement confirming the unfortunate death of Pope Francis. The Roman Catholic Church's first Latin American leader passed away at the age of 88.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell shared via the Vatican's TV channel,

"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis."

The official statement further mentioned the time of the disheartening incident. The cardinal added,

"At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father."

With Pope Francis' sudden demise, people across the world are curious about the successor, and the official procedure followed to find someone to take on the significant responsibility.

As per a report published by CNBC TV18, the following cardinals, among others, have emerged as potential successors:

• Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines)
• Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)
• Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary)
• Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (USA)
• Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy)
• Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk (Netherlands)
• Cardinal Mario Grech (Malta)

According to a report by The Week, the concerned groups had already started making arrangements to choose the next pontiff, especially after Pope Francis suffered from double pneumonia recently.

Once a pope passes away, the process for the next successor commences with the qualified cardinals arriving at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel and taking an oath of secrecy. They are required to seclude themselves completely and remain at the venue, far away from their lives outside.

Here's what we know about the next Pope after Pope Francis' death

As stated earlier, the preparations have been made already to find the next pontiff. And to choose the eligible one, traditions dating back decades and centuries are followed.

However, over the recent years, some transitions have been noticed in this process with the involvement of Catholic journalists and researchers. They have worked to finalize a one-of-a-kind guide to look for the next Pope.

The Week recently revealed that the College of Cardinals Report stated about 252 cardinals. However, only 137 among them can be considered for the papal election and the opportunity to be the upcoming pontiff, as they are younger than 80 years old.

The method to select the next pope, after Pope Francis' demise, is crucial. Suitable cardinals participating in this noteworthy progression undergo a pivotal voting system. Cardinal electors submit their preference by writing the name of their chosen candidate and submitting it in ballots.

Primarily, the candidate with two-thirds majority is declared the winner. However, there is another procedure when the group of electors does not consist of an overall number that is a multiple of three. During such instances, an extra vote is considered.

Four ballot rounds are conducted every day till the end of the steps to choose the next pope. The operation is followed till a cardinal wins with a majority. A major step that is followed after every session is burning the ballot papers.

Smoke and fumes are released for bystanders to denote that the crucial process is taking place inside. White smoke signifies that there is a new pope ready to take over the responsibilities. On the other hand, black smoke means that the steps to find the next in line are not over yet, and the cardinals have not chosen the next pontiff yet.

Also Read: How old was Pope Francis? Details explored as Vatican announces death

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