These are the likely successors to Pope Francis amid concerns about the pontiff’s health following his hospitalisation with pneumonia.
Pope Francis, 88, developed pneumonia in both lungs over the weekend and is set to remain in hospital as he continues his treatment.
The Vatican said in a statement yesterday: “Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture.” The pontiff’s condition has further highlighted the men who are likely to succeed him.
While any baptised Roman Catholic man is technically eligible for election, for more than 600 years every Pope has been selected from among the College of Cardinals.
New popes are selected following their death or resignation. Pope Francis himself was elected to the position following the resignation of his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.
Here are the men considered most likely to succeed Pope Francis:
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu would be the first Black pope should he be elected.
The 65-year-old is best known for rejecting one of Pope Francis’ controversial declarations. The conservative declared the Fiducia supplicans doctrine that allowed priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples, as impermissible in Africa.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, would likely start to distance the church away from Pope Francis’ perceived left-wing views.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
Dubbed the “Asian Pope Francis,” the 67-year-old Filipino is considered to be left-leaning and has held a critical stance of how the church has handled the treatment of divorced Catholics as well as members of the LGBT community.
In 2015, he said the Church’s stance toward these groups had done major harm to it’s evangelizing efforts.
Cardinal Peter Erdo
As a conservative, the 72-year-old Hungarian has previously opposed divorcing or remarried Catholics receiving the Holy Communion.
He has been a vocal opponent of European nations accepting refugees.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
The Italian cardinal is widely considered to be a moderate within the church and is among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis.
He has served in the Vatican for 11 years and has been a part of diplomatic efforts of the Holy See.
He is widely considered to be an extension of the legacy of the current pontiff.
Cardinal Raymond Burke
Arch-conservative American Burke has previously challenged Pope Francis’ acceptance to allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist.
He has also challenged the Church around its recent stances toward contraception, homosexuals and civil marriages.
Cardinal Wim Eijk
Cardinal Eijk has staunchly opposed Francis on a number of issues
The Dutch former doctor is believed to be one the most conservative among the frontrunners.
He has staunchly opposed Pope Francis over his endorsement of civil marriages in the case of not receiving an annulment of the first marriage.
He also hit out against the Pope over his inability to dismiss a proposal that would allow Protestants to receive the Eucharist in Catholic churches.
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