Who Will Succeed Pope Francis?
on Apr 22, 2025
The Vatican Confirms The Passing Of Pope Francis
The honorable Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, after being hospitalized in February with pneumonia in both lungs.
The Vatican confirmed the news in a statement, which read:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. [At 7:35 a.m.], the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Just one day before his death, Pope Francis delivered his final “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday.
Pope Francis’ Life & Legacy
The Pope was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936. At 21 years old, Bergoglio suffered life-threatening pneumonia with three cysts and had to have part of his lung removed as a result.
Surviving the extreme illness inspired the young man to join the Society of Jesus and officially become a Jesuit in 1960. Bergoglio was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979.
He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was later created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
His papal name, Pope Francis, was chosen to honor Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis has been commended for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interreligious dialogue. Additionally, he maintained a less formal approach than his predecessors and had increased international visibility as a pope.
Who will become Pope following Francis’ death?
The role of the pope is one of the most prestigious and revered in the world. As the head of the Catholic Church and the sovereign of the Vatican City State, the pope has tremendous religious, social, and political influence. So, who will assume the role?
Now that Pope Francis has passed, the Vatican will convene a papal conclave, where the College of Cardinals will come together to elect the next head of the church. As of January 2025, 138 of the 252 Cardinals are eligible to be electors.
The electors will cast their vote for the next pope in a secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel. Four rounds of voting will take place each day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority vote. This process has historically taken 15-20 days.
Sistine Chapel (Great Chapel), one of Vatican's proudest features. Set in confines of Vatican City's historical backdrop, chapel is famous for its extensive collection of 'Renaissance Art' that has been painted by some of world's most famous artists.
Chapel takes its name from… pic.twitter.com/pq2tStfOYw
— Archaeo – Histories (@archeohistories) December 4, 2023
A handful of prominent religious leaders are in the running to succeed the Pope, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Peter Erdö, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.
