Sede Vacante, or “the seat is vacant,” marks the period between the death of a pope and the election of his successor.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, died of cardiac arrest at the age of 88 on April 20, 2025. His death was confirmed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. This triggered the Novemdiales, a nine-day period of mourning. During this time, the College of Cardinals—tasked with advising the Church and electing a new pope—convenes to prepare for the conclave.
The Conclave brings together all cardinals under the age of 80 to the Vatican, where they are secluded in the Domus Sanctae Marthae and vote inside the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy.
As anticipation builds, six papabili—those seen as most likely to be elected—have emerged.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, is a seasoned diplomat and a close ally of Pope Francis. Still, the last Secretary of State to become pope was Pius XII in 1939, making his path uncommon.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, a pastoral figure and advocate for social justice, is widely seen as Francis’s ideological heir. However, some recall the old Vatican saying, “Dopo un papa grasso, se ne elegge uno magro”—“After a fat pope, a thin one is elected”—hinting that the Church may swing toward contrast.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, another Italian, is also Francis-aligned. He’s known for social outreach and peacebuilding. Yet, the idea of electing another Italian remains contentious.
Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana has long spoken on climate and inequality. Though respected, his quieter profile may affect his support among electors.
Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, the leading conservative, champions traditional liturgy and doctrine. He is respected but seen as potentially out of step with the current pastoral tone.
Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary is another conservative candidate, known for his orthodoxy and legal expertise. His lower public profile, however, may work against him.
As the cardinals prepare to vote, the world waits for the white smoke that will announce the next successor to Saint Peter.
