VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A diverse cast of cardinals gathering at the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral will soon turn to voting for his successor as head of the Catholic Church. Only a few are considered likely candidates for the papacy, or “papabile” in Italian.
Because of Francis’ elevation of prelates from the “peripheries,” many of the electors will have met only this week, while those who work in the Curia, the Vatican’s bureaucracy, know each other and many others besides. The magazine Cardinalis and the website Cardinal Report offer insight into every member of the College of Cardinals and where they stand on certain issues, but being recognizable will be an advantage in this conclave of strangers.
Some of the elements that cardinals look for in a pope never change: An impeccable background and strong leadership skills are a must, and candidates most likely have a mastery of languages and are well-traveled. But given their diverse backgrounds, not all cardinals’ priorities necessarily align with Western concerns.
Francis handpicked 80% of the cardinals who will vote on his successor, but it’s no guarantee the new pope will be like-minded: The conclave that elected Francis was filled with cardinals appointed by the relative conservatives Pope Benedict XVI and Po …