This is the list of all the possible candidates to be the successor to Pope Francis…see more
Who will be the next Pope? These are the possible candidates.
Country News, Vatican City.- Following the death of Pope Francis , the Catholic Church enters a crucial phase: the election of the next Vicar of Christ , a sacred process that is attracting global attention and whose codes, though invisible to many, are deeply marked by tradition.
For almost seven centuries, specifically since 1362, only members of the College of Cardinals have been elevated to the throne of Peter.
Although, in theory, any Catholic with advanced studies in Sacred Scripture, Theology, or Canon Law could be elected, ecclesiastical custom has established an unwritten pact : being a cardinal is the tacit requirement for becoming Pope. Furthermore, there is an age limit for voting and being elected: one must be under 80 years old .
Currently, those who meet these conditions are part of a complex conclave. According to church sources consulted by OKDIARIO, many of the cardinals barely know each other , given that the meetings convened by Francis were limited. This hampers consensus and makes the process more unpredictable than on previous occasions.
Among the names that resonate most strongly is Cardinal Gerhard Müller , considered one of the main representatives of the doctrinally conservative wing.
He served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 2012 to 2017 and has been a staunch voice in defense of Catholic orthodoxy.
Appointed cardinal by Francis himself in 2014, Müller has been highly critical of certain actions by the Argentine pontiff, especially regarding restrictions on the Latin Mass, the possibility of female diaconates, and the relaxation of priestly celibacy.
At the political level, he has expressed positions against globalism and the 2030 Agenda , accusing its promoters of wanting to dilute the Christian faith.
Although he did not break with Pope Francis, he did suggest that the pontiff had committed material heresy, without considering it formal.
Also notable is Cardinal Robert Sarah , originally from Guinea, known for his austerity, deep spirituality and fidelity to traditional teachings.
Benedict XVI valued him by appointing him President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum and then Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
Sarah has denounced moral relativism and secularization within the Church, advocating for a reverent liturgy and a clear vision of family and sexuality.
He is particularly respected for his courage in criticizing the rise of radical Islam and his outright rejection of abortion, based on his experience living under a Marxist regime in his native country.
His figure represents a more spiritual Church, silent and removed from the media noise, but with great doctrinal depth.
