Displaying items by tag: conclave

On 8 May Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, was elected as the new head of the Catholic Church, becoming the first North American, American, and Peruvian pope. A member of the Order of Saint Augustine, he is also the first Augustinian pope in modern times. Prevost’s career included decades of service in Peru as a pastor, seminary educator, and diocesan official, before rising within his order’s global leadership. He later served as Bishop of Chiclayo and was made a cardinal in 2023, shortly before becoming Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops - a critical Vatican post. His wide linguistic fluency and diverse cultural experience positioned him as a bridge between the global North and South. His leadership will be closely watched for how he navigates past controversies and leads a Church increasingly shaped by voices from the global south.

As preparations are made for Pope Francis’s funeral, there is already much speculation about who might succeed him, a risky process as supposed ‘front-runners’ are seldom elected. Also, Francis’ appointments of many new cardinals have complicated analysis. Among possible contenders are Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a Middle East expert with minimal ties to Vatican politics, and Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, a seasoned diplomat known for fostering relations with China and Vietnam. From Africa, Fridolin Ambongo was a close advisor to Francis, though he is conservative on key issues. Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, dubbed the ‘Asian Francis’, is pastoral and inclusive, while Matteo Zuppi of Italy has been active in peace efforts and LGBTQ+ pastoral outreach. Conservative voices back Peter Erdo of Hungary, known for his scholarly and traditionalist stance. Lastly, Anders Arborelius, Sweden’s first cardinal, advocates unity in a polarised world while defending traditional doctrine. The choice will reflect whether the Church wishes to continue Francis’ legacy or change direction.