Who Could Be the Next Pope? A Look at Possible Candidates

After the death of Pope Francis, people are now wondering who will be the next pope. In the Catholic Church, when a pope dies a special meeting called a conclave happens about 15 to 20 days later.

During the conclave cardinals from around the world gather inside the Vatican. They vote in secret. To become pope, a man must get two-thirds of the votes. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote.

Right now, there are 135 cardinals who can vote. Even though, in theory, any Catholic man can become pope, usually the next pope is chosen from these cardinals. It’s very rare to pick someone from outside the College of Cardinals — it hasn’t happened since 1378.

Pope Francis had chosen many of the current cardinals, so his ideas and vision may continue with the next pope too.

There are some names that people are already talking about. A reporter, Edward Pentin, wrote a book called “The Next Pope,” where he listed cardinals who could be strong candidates.

Here’s a list of the possible papal candidates:

There are also 10 American cardinals who can vote, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Cardinal Wilton Gregory.

Still, surprises can happen. In 2013, many thought Pope Francis was too old to be picked. And Pope John Paul II was not a favorite when he became pope in 1978.  So, until the votes are counted, no one really knows who it will be.