Who will be the next Pope? Here are some of the contenders

Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday (21 April), a number of names have been mentioned as possible successors to become head of the Catholic Church.

Although Francis, who became pope after Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, had been ill for some time, he had seemed to be on the road to recovery and, despite appearing frail, even offered a blessing from St Peter’s Basilica, in Rome, on Easter Sunday. He was 88.

“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised,” cardinal Kevin Farrell said while announcing the news.

Farrell, who is leading the Catholic Church on an interim basis, added: “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

On Tuesday morning (22 April), while Catholics around the world mourned, the Vatican announced Francis’s funeral would be held on Saturday (26 April).

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 21: A photograph of the Pope is displayed at Westminster Cathedral following the death of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world on April 21, 2025, in London, United Kingdom. Following the death of Pope Francis, the spiritual head of the Catholic Church, people gathered in churches to pay their respects. Memorial and condolence spaces were set up in Catholic churches across the country. In London, Christians offered prayers and lit candles in remembrance of the Pope, particularly at Westminster Cathedral, the central hub of Catholicism in England and Wales. — LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – APRIL 21: A photograph of the Pope is displayed at Westminster Cathedral following the death of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world on April 21, 2025, in London, United Kingdom. Following the death of Pope Francis, the spiritual head of the Catholic Church, people gathered in churches to pay their respects. Memorial and condolence spaces were set up in Catholic churches across the country. In London, Christians offered prayers and lit candles in remembrance of the Pope, particularly at Westminster Cathedral, the central hub of Catholicism in England and Wales. (Photo by Behlul Cetinkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Any baptised Roman Catholic man can, technically, be elected pope. But, for many centuries now, every pope has been selected from the College of Cardinals, the group which will cast votes at the conclave to choose the next pontiff.

When it’s time to select a new pope, every cardinal under the age of 80 is expected to travel to Rome to vote. Inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals write the name of their chosen candidate on a paper ballot which is placed into a chalice. Four rounds of balloting are held every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the votes.

The public are not allowed to see the voting but are made aware when the final choice has been made by white smoke being emitted from the Vatican’s chiminea.

Here are those believed to be the top contenders to lead the estimated 1.4 billion baptised Catholics worldwide.