10 cardinals who could succeed Pope Francis.

Following the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a phase known as sede vacante, which translates from Latin to "the seat being vacant."

This initiates the time-honored procedure for electing a new pope.

With no definitive frontrunner emerging, focus has shifted to several senior cardinals viewed as potential successors to the 266th pontiff, who guided the Church from 2013 until his death at the age of 88.

The appointment of a new pope will take place during a conclave, a confidential assembly of eligible cardinals held within the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.

This process is steered by well-established customs and rituals, although the results remain uncertain.

Reports from The Telegraph and CNBC indicate that a number of cardinals have surfaced as possible papabili, a term denoting those deemed likely to be elected as pope.

The list features individuals from diverse regions and theological perspectives, with some closely aligned with Pope Francis’ progressive ideals and others embodying a more conservative stance.

Here are ten cardinals frequently mentioned in Western media as potential candidates:

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines)
Tagle is the Cardinal-Bishop of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle (pro hac vice) and serves as the President of the Catholic Biblical Federation, Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, while also being actively engaged in various departments of the Roman Curia.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)
Parolin has held the position of Secretary of State for the Vatican since 2013 and became a member of the Council of Cardinals in 2014, the same year he was elevated to the cardinalate.

Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary)
Erdő has served as the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate of Hungary since 2003.

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (USA)
Burke is a notable conservative figure within the Catholic Church, having previously served as Archbishop of St. Louis and Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest court, from 2008 to 2014.

He held the position of Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 2014 to 2023.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy)
Since 2015, Zuppi has been the Archbishop of Bologna, having previously served as an auxiliary bishop in Rome.

Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk (Netherlands)
Eijk, who has a background as a medical doctor and moral theologian, has been the Archbishop of Utrecht since 2007 and was elevated to cardinal in 2012.

Cardinal Mario Grech (Malta)
Since 2020, Grech has been the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, playing a crucial role in the worldwide synodal process.

Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana)
Turkson currently leads the Pontifical Academies of Sciences. He previously directed the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and was the inaugural prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development.

Cardinal Angelo Scola (Italy)
Scola is an experienced theologian and philosopher who served as the Archbishop of Milan from 2011 to 2017, having been the Patriarch of Venice prior to that.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM is an Italian Catholic prelate who has held the position of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since November 6, 2020.

As 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide grieve the passing of Pope Francis, they now look forward to news regarding his successor in spiritual leadership.