As the world, particularly the Catholic community, mourns the passing of Pope Francis, anticipation builds for his successor. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, widely known as Cardinal Tagle, is among the potential candidates to become the next pope.
Photo: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila | Vatican News
Who is Cardinal Tagle?
Dubbed the “Asian Francis,” the 67-year-old Filipino prelate is recognized for his advocacy for marginalized people and migrants. Furthermore, he is well-known for his outspokenness on social injustices and his critiques of the Catholic Church’s use of “harsh words” to describe LGBTQ+ individuals as well as divorced and remarried Catholics.
Cardinal Tagle, often called by his nickname “Chito,” has decades of pastoral experience, having been ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Manila in 1982. Throughout his career, he has served on numerous councils and congregations.
Photo: Cardinal Tagle/Facebook
Having been made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, he later became president of Caritas Internationalis in 2015 and was re-elected for another four-year term in 2019.
If elected as a successor to Pope Francis, he would be the first pontiff from Asia. Alongside him, other papabili—or leading candidates to become the next pope—include Peter Erdo, Matteo Zuppi, Robert Sarah, Pietro Parolin, Jean-Marc Aveline, Willem Jacobus Eijk, Malcolm Ranjith, and among others.
How Will the Next Pope Be Chosen?
So, how will the next pope be chosen? Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, the Vatican has entered a period known as “Sede Vacante” (Latin for “vacant seat”).
During this time, the appointed Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, oversees the Vatican’s day-to-day affairs and safeguards the temporal rights of the Holy See until a new pope is elected.
Photo: Pope Francis
The conclave is expected to take place 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death, during which the College of Cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Although there are over 250 cardinals around the globe, only 135 are eligible to vote—those under the age of 80. Notably, Pope Francis appointed 108 of these electors.
The term “conclave” comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key,” symbolizing the strict secrecy of the process. Throughout the conclave, the cardinals are sworn to secrecy and sequestered within the Vatican, cut off from the outside world.
Balloting begins with a two-thirds majority required to elect a new pope. Up to four rounds of voting can be held each day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
After each session, the ballots are burned. Black smoke signals that no pope has been elected, while white smoke means a new pope has been chosen.
Once a new pope is elected and accepts the position, he selects a papal name. A senior cardinal then announces the news with the iconic phrase, “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”).
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday due to a stroke and heart failure. In February, he was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis, which developed into double pneumonia, marking his longest hospitalization during his 12-year papacy.
Pope Francis was the first pontiff from South America and the Jesuit order. He became the 266th pope in 2013, following the resignation of the late Pope Benedict XVI.
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