Pope Francis's Health Is in Jeopardy: Who Could Be His Successor?

In recent hours Pope Francis's health status (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) has become a major concern among the high ranks of the Catholic Church. Due to a "polymicrobial infection," the Vatican's main leader is hospitalized with a "complex clinical condition."

Although his health is not currently in grave danger, significant questions about his successor have begun to arise. The election of a new head of the Church is not only due to the death of the one in office, but an illness that prevents him from continuing to serve can also be a cause.

Now, the process of electing the Pope must go through a challenging period, in which a conclave must be held to appoint a new Pope. In it, currently 140 cardinals under 80 years old (out of a total of 253) have the possibility of becoming Francis's successor.

In the event of the death or resignation of the current papal figure, these cardinals are brought to a meeting in the Sistine Chapel where they take an oath of secrecy and are isolated from the outside world.

The vote cast to elect the Pope's successor is secret and a two-thirds majority is required for a candidate's victory. The voting is done in the form of ballots on which the name and surname of the chosen candidate are written, and up to four voting rounds can be held per day.

At the end of each session, the ballots are burned, showing smoke that serves as a reference for observers. If the smoke is black, it means there has been no successful election, if it is white, a new Pope has been elected.

Who are the possible successors?

Within the list of possible successors to Pope Francis or the papabili, there is a great struggle between progressives and conservatives that has been ongoing for several decades. Although those progressive cardinals do not describe Francis as such, the current Pope has navigated the waters of leftist ideology during his years of leadership.

Luis Antonio Tagle

One of the cardinals with the highest chances of victory, according to various sources, is the Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. At 67 years old, the Filipino would be an option with strong consensus among the more progressive branches of the Catholic Church.

Tagle has strongly promoted relationships between people of different religions and has used the growing phenomenon of mass immigration and globalization to foster these relationships.

In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him archbishop of his country in Manila, and he was appointed by the same to the International Theological Commission in 1997. Tagle had previously been a candidate to succeed Benedict XVI.

Pietro Parolin

Another of the cardinals who has a favorable advantage in the race to succeed Pope Francis is Pietro Parolin, who is the current Secretary of State of the Vatican, being the highest diplomatic authority of the state.

Parolin is considered a moderate candidate who seeks to repair the errors perpetrated by Francis in social matters, according to various sources. The Italian, however, has the disadvantage that a cardinal from his country has not been elected Pope since John Paul I in 1978.

During the anniversary of the 40 years of the Peace Treaty with Chile, the Argentine chancellor Gerardo Werthein appointed Parolin as a representative in the absence of the chancellor.

With his profile more inclined toward progressivism, the current Secretary of State of the Vatican, acted as nuncio in Venezuela since 2009, where he played a key role in the relations between Chavismo and the Church.

Fridolin Ambongo

One of the great surprises is perhaps the African representation in the Vatican, as Fridolin Ambongo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is gaining ground in the contest.

While his country faces a delicate situation marked by war, Ambongo Besungu made a call for peace in the region as Rwandan forces enter Congolese territory.

Ambongo, meanwhile, has expressed his opinion on a controversial issue in episcopal matters. The Congolese has repeatedly stated that if the Church decided to support the female diaconate, he would not oppose it, as would the Church in Africa.

Robert Sarah

Perhaps one of the most critical voices of Pope Francis, the French cardinal Robert Sarah timidly enters the papal contest. The Frenchman is part of a group of 5 cardinals who represent the most conservative sector within the Vatican.

Sarah has been a great critic of current immigration policies, pointing out the serious consequences that the lack of immigration controls can entail, in addition to pointing out blasphemous attitudes by those who use the Bible to justify mass immigration.

Another important point in his thinking is his accurate opinion on the disastrous gender ideology, which he has fiercely criticized and even demonized.

Sarah has been one of the great critics of Francis and the change of current within the Vatican seems to be an important factor when it comes to the possible election of a new Pope.