FOLLOWING the death of Pope Francis on the morning of Easter Monday, attention turns to the question of his successor.
Francis led the Catholic church for 12 years, right up until – as is tradition.
After the nine days of mourning have been observed – during which time – the papal conclave will begin in order to select a successor.
All 252 cardinals from around the world will travel to Rome for the secret ballot, in which a maximum of 115 can vote.
When a candidate has two thirds of the vote, they will be made Pope through a pontifical coronation.
Here are some of the front-runners:
CARDINAL LUIS TAGLE
Tagle, 67, has been dubbed the “Asian “, because his views largely align with the current Pontiff.
He has criticised the Church's “severe” stance on gay people, divorcees and single mothers.
Tagle is the seventh cardinal ever from the Philippines and, if picked, would become the first Asian Pope.
CARDINAL FRIDOLIN AMBONGO BESUNGU
Besungu, 65, is a Congolese cardinal who has publicly clashed with Francis in the past.
He rejected a decree from Francis that the church should give its blessing to homosexual couples, arguing that “cannot be carried out in Africa without exposing themselves to scandals”.
He effectively declared the doctrine, called Fiducia supplicans, null and void on the African continent.
If Besungu – the youngest of the front-runners – was elected as Pope, his leadership would likely force a U-turn on much of Francis's work.
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
Italian Parolin, 70, is currently the Vatican's Secretary of State, and has been a bookies' favourite to don the robe since last November.
He treads the middle ground on most political questions facing the Church, and has spent years abroad in and as a diplomat.
Parolin would be seen as an extension of Francis's legacy.
CARDINAL WIM EIJK
Eijk, 71, is a former doctor and one of the most conservative cardinals with their hat in the ring.
The Dutchman once wrote that remarrying is “a form of structured and institutionalised adultery”, and has sharply criticised Francis's view on the matter.
The cardinal also slammed the current Pope's decision to allow Protestants receive bread and wine in Catholic as “completely incomprehensible”.
CARDINAL RAYMOND BURKE
Burke, 76, is another unwavering conservative, who believes strongly in the traditions of Latin Mass.
Hailing from Wisconsin, USA, Burke doesn't believe that people who have divorced and remarried should be allowed to receive Holy Communion.
He also branded as “objectionable” the Church's reformed approach to gay people, civil marriages and contraception.
CARDINAL PETRO ERDO
Erdo, 72, is a former President of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe – a group of 33 leading Bishops from the continent.
The Hungarian is a devout Marian, which means he directs his religious practices towards Mary, mother of Jesus.
He is known for being a Conservative voice within the Church, and is against divorced or remarried Catholics partaking Holy Communion.
He has made some controversial claims in his time, including likening taking in refugees to .
The distinguished cardinal is fluent in Hungarian, English, Italian, French and Latin.
CARDINAL MATTEO ZUPPI
Italian Cardinal Zuppi, 69, is known to be a favourite of the current , who in 2023 asked him to carry out a mission to bring peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zuppi met with Zelenksy, but not Putin – and later in the year flew to the US to meet President Biden.
He has been the president of the Episcopal Conference of since May 2022.
The cardinal holds much more progressive views than many of his peers, writing in book in 2018 that the Church should seek dialogue and understanding with “our LGBT brothers and sisters”.
CARDINAL MARIO GRECH
Grech, 67, from Malta, is considered a moderate voice within the Church.
He has spoken about the importance of reaching out to communities that feel rejected by the Church due to the sexuality or status.
He was elevate to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020.
