What You Need to Know About the Papal Conclave
- CWM
- 5 days ago
- 12 min read
The papal conclave, where cardinals gather to elect a new pope, is a momentous event that attracts attention from millions around the globe. As we move closer to the next conclave, it’s essential to understand the composition of the cardinalate in terms of nationality and age. These factors play a pivotal role in shaping the leadership of the Catholic Church. This article explores the current conclave list of cardinals, offering insights into their backgrounds and the potential implications for future leadership.
The Importance of Nationality
The nationality of cardinals significantly shapes their viewpoints and priorities within the Catholic Church. Historically, most cardinals came from Europe, particularly Italy. In fact, in the 20th century, about 55% of cardinals were of European descent. However, that landscape has changed dramatically recently.
Currently, around 20% of cardinals come from Africa, and an additional 20% hail from Latin America. This shift is a reflection of the growing Catholic population in those regions. For instance, the Catholic Church in Africa has grown by an impressive 73% in the last 30 years, while Latin America hosts nearly half of all Catholics worldwide. These demographic changes bring a diverse range of perspectives on doctrine, theology, and pastoral focus, influencing the conclave's electing process in significant ways.
The Average Age of Cardinals
The average age of cardinals is another essential factor to consider. Historically, this has been around 75 years. This trend influences their willingness to adopt transformative changes compared to a more conservative stance. For instance, cardinals under 70 may advocate more for modernization and engagement with contemporary issues, while those over 80 may prioritize tradition.
As of the most recent conclave, the average age of cardinal electors has dipped slightly to around 72 years, indicating a potential openness to change. However, about 45% of cardinals are still over the age of 75. This mix creates a dynamic where the experience of older cardinals might clash with the innovative ideas of younger ones, raising questions about the long-term vision of the Church.
Moreover, the age composition among cardinals can greatly affect their openness to reform. A mixture of younger, innovative thinkers and older, traditionalists may create a vital dialogue that paves the way for a robust and contemporary Catholic identity.
The Conclave
About 135 cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pontiff next week, according to the Vatican. Besides being the pope's main chapel, the Sistine Chapel has been the site of the conclave, the election that selects a new pope when there is a vacancy
The conclave that will elect the new pope is set to begin in a few days. Although the College of Cardinals consists of 252 members, only those under 80 years old are eligible to gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote for Pope Francis’ successor. The cardinals created by John Paul II now number only five, and those created by Benedict XVI, 22. To date, Francis has directly chosen 108 of the 135 men who could elect his successor.
List of Cardinals: Nationality and Age of Potential Papal Candidates
Italian cardinals (17)
Fabio Baggio, 60, Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development. Created cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Domenico Battaglia, 62, Archbishop of Naples. Created cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Giuseppe Betori, 78, emeritus Archbishop of Florence. Created cardinal on February 18, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Oscar Cantoni, 74, Bishop of Como. Created cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Angelo De Donatis, 71, Major Penitentiary. Created cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
Fernando Filoni, 79, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Created cardinal on February 18, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Mauro Gambetti, 59, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. Created cardinal on November 28, 2020, by Francis.
Claudio Gugerotti, 69, Prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches. Created cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Augusto Paolo Lojudice, 60, Archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d’Elsa-Montalcino. Created cardinal on November 28, 2020, by Francis.
Francesco Montenegro, 78, emeritus Archbishop of Agrigento. Created cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Pietro Parolin, 70, Secretary of State. Created cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Giuseppe Petrocchi, 76, emeritus Archbishop of L’Aquila. Created cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
Baldassare Reina, 54, Vicar General of Rome. Created cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Roberto Repole, 58, Archbishop of Turin. Created cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Marcello Semeraro, 77, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Created cardinal on November 28, 2020, by Francis.
Mario Zenari, 79, Apostolic Nuncio to Syria. Created cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Matteo Maria Zuppi, 69, Archbishop of Bologna. Created cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Other European Cardinals (36)
Jean-Marc Aveline (France), 66, Archbishop of Marseille. Created cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Philippe Barbarin (France), 74, emeritus Archbishop of Lyon. Created cardinal on October 21, 2003, by John Paul II.
François-Xavier Bustillo (France), 56, Bishop of Ajaccio. Created cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Dominique Mamberti (France), 73, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Created cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Christophe Pierre (France), 79, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. Created cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Reinhard Marx (Germany), 71, Archbishop of Munich and Freising. Created a cardinal on November 20, 2010, by Benedict XVI.
Gerhard Ludwig Müller (Germany), 77, Emeritus Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Rainer Woelki (Germany), 68, Archbishop of Cologne. Created a cardinal on February 18, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Vincent Nichols (United Kingdom), 79, Archbishop of Westminster. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Timothy Radcliffe (United Kingdom), 79, Emeritus Master of the Order of Preachers. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Arthur Roche (United Kingdom), 75, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Jozef De Kesel (Belgium), 77, Emeritus Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Vinko Puljić (Bosnia), 79, Emeritus Archbishop of Sarajevo. Created a cardinal on November 26, 1994, by John Paul II.
Josip Bozanić (Croatia), 76, Emeritus Archbishop of Zagreb. Created a cardinal on October 21, 2003, by John Paul II.
Ángel Fernández Artime (Spain), 64, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Antonio Cañizares Llovera (Spain), 79, Emeritus Archbishop of Valencia. Created a cardinal on March 24, 2006, by Benedict XVI. (He announced that he will not participate in this conclave).
José Cobo Cano (Spain), 59, Archbishop of Madrid. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Juan José Omella (Spain), 79, Archbishop of Barcelona. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2017, by Francis.
Carlos Osoro Sierra (Spain), 79, Emeritus Archbishop of Madrid. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Péter Erdö (Hungary), 72, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest. Created a cardinal on October 21, 2003, by John Paul II.
Rolandas Makrickas (Lithuania), 53, Coadjutor Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Jean-Claude Hollerich (Luxembourg), 66, Archbishop of Luxembourg. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Mario Grech (Malta), 68, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. Created a cardinal on November 28, 2020, by Francis.
Willem Jacobus Eijk (Netherlands), 71, Archbishop of Utrecht. Created a cardinal on February 18, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Konrad Krajewski (Poland), 61, Apostolic Almoner. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
Kazimierz Nycz (Poland), 75, Emeritus Archbishop of Warsaw. Created a cardinal on November 20, 2010, by Benedict XVI.
Stanisław Ryłko (Poland), 79, Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2007, by Benedict XVI.
Grzegorz Ryś (Poland), 61, Archbishop of Łódź. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Américo Alves Aguiar (Portugal), 51, Bishop of Setúbal. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Manuel do Nascimento Clemente (Portugal), 76, Emeritus Patriarch of Lisbon. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Antonio dos Santos Marto (Portugal), 77, Emeritus Bishop of Leiria-Fátima. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
José Tolentino de Mendonça (Portugal), 59, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Ladislav Nemet (Serbia), 68, Archbishop of Belgrade. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Kurt Koch (Switzerland), 75, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity. Created a cardinal on November 20, 2010, by Benedict XVI.
Emil Paul Tscherrig (Switzerland), 78, Emeritus Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and San Marino. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Anders Arborelius (Sweden), 75, Bishop of Stockholm. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2017, by Francis.
American cardinals (37)
Vicente Bokalic Iglic (Argentina), 72, Archbishop of Santiago del Estero. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Víctor Manuel Fernández (Argentina), 62, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Mario Aurelio Poli (Argentina), 77, Emeritus Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Ángel Sixto Rossi (Argentina), 66, Archbishop of Córdoba. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
João Braz de Aviz (Brazil), 78, Emeritus Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Created a cardinal on February 18, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Paulo Cezar Costa (Brazil), 57, Archbishop of Brasília. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Sérgio da Rocha (Brazil), 65, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Odilo Pedro Scherer (Brazil), 75, Archbishop of São Paulo. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2007, by Benedict XVI.
Jaime Spengler (Brazil), 64, Archbishop of Porto Alegre. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Leonardo Ulrich Steiner (Brazil), 74, Archbishop of Manaus. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Orani João Tempesta (Brazil), 74, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Thomas Christopher Collins (Canada), 78, Emeritus Archbishop of Toronto. Created a cardinal on February 18, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Michael Czerny (Canada), 78, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Gérald Cyprien Lacroix (Canada - Quebec), 67, Archbishop of Quebec. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Frank Leo (Canada), 53, Archbishop of Toronto. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Fernando Chomalí (Chile), 67, Archbishop of Santiago. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Luis José Rueda Aparicio (Colombia), 63, Archbishop of Bogotá. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez (Cuba), 76, Archbishop of Havana. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Raymond Leo Burke (United States), 76, Emeritus Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Created a cardinal on November 20, 2010, by Benedict XVI.
Blase Cupich (United States), 76, Archbishop of Chicago. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Daniel Nicholas DiNardo (United States), 75, Emeritus Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2007, by Benedict XVI.
Timothy Dolan (United States), 75, Archbishop of New York. Created a cardinal on February 18, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Kevin Farrell (United States), 77, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Wilton Gregory (United States), 77, Emeritus Archbishop of Washington. Created a cardinal on November 28, 2020, by Francis.
James Michael Harvey (United States), 75, Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Robert McElroy (United States), 71, Archbishop of Washington. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Robert Francis Prevost (United States), 69, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Joseph Tobin (United States), 72, Archbishop of Newark. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Luis Cabrera Herrera (Ecuador), 69, Archbishop of Guayaquil. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri (Guatemala), 77, Bishop of Huehuetenango. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Chibly Langlois (Haiti), 66, Bishop of Les Cayes. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Francisco Robles Ortega (Mexico), 76, Archbishop of Guadalajara. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2007, by Benedict XVI.
Carlos Aguiar Retes (Mexico), 75, Archbishop of Mexico City. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano (Nicaragua), 76, Archbishop of Managua. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Adalberto Martínez Flores (Paraguay), 73, Archbishop of Asunción. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio (Peru), 75, Archbishop of Lima. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet (Uruguay), 65, Archbishop of Montevideo. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Asian cardinals (23)
Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), 76, Archbishop of Yangon. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Lazare You Heung-sik (South Korea), 73, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Stephen Chow Sau-yan (Hong Kong), 65, Bishop of Hong Kong. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Baselios Cleemis (born Isaac) Thottumkal (India), 65, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
Filipe do Rosário Ferrao (India), 72, Archbishop of Goa and Daman. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
George Koovakad (India), 51, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Anthony Poola (India), 63, Archbishop of Hyderabad. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo (Indonesia), 74, Archbishop of Jakarta. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Louis Raphaël I Sako (Iraq), 76, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
Dominique Mathieu (Iran), 61, Latin Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi (Japan), 66, Archbishop of Tokyo. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda (Japan), 76, Archbishop of Osaka-Takamatsu. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Jerusalem), 60, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Sebastian Francis (Malaysia), 73, Bishop of Penang. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Giorgio Marengo (Mongolia), 50, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Joseph Coutts (Pakistan), 79, Emeritus Archbishop of Karachi. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
Jose Advincula (Philippines), 73, Archbishop of Manila. Created a cardinal on November 28, 2020, by Francis.
Pablo Virgilio David (Philippines), 66, Bishop of Caloocan. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), 67, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2012, by Benedict XVI.
William Goh (Singapore), 67, Archbishop of Singapore. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don (Sri Lanka), 77, Archbishop of Colombo. Created a cardinal on November 20, 2010, by Benedict XVI.
Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit (Thailand), 75, Emeritus Archbishop of Bangkok. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Virgilio do Carmo da Silva (East Timor), 57, Archbishop of Dili. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
African cardinals (18)
Stephen Brislin (South Africa), 68, Archbishop of Johannesburg. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Jean-Paul Vesco (Algeria), 63, Archbishop of Algiers. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Philippe Ouédraogo (Burkina Faso), 79, Emeritus Archbishop of Ouagadougou. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Arlindo Gomes Furtado (Cape Verde), 75, Bishop of Santiago de Cape Verde. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Dieudonné Nzapalainga (Central African Republic), 58, Archbishop of Bangui. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Ignace Bessi Dogbo (Ivory Coast), 63, Archbishop of Abidjan. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
Jean-Pierre Kutwa (Ivory Coast), 79, Emeritus Archbishop of Abidjan. Created a cardinal on February 22, 2014, by Francis.
Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel (Ethiopia), 76, Archbishop of Addis Ababa for the Ethiopians. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (Ghana), 76, Emeritus Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development. Created a cardinal on October 21, 2003, by John Paul II.
Robert Sarah (Guinea), 79, Emeritus Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Created a cardinal on November 20, 2010, by Benedict XVI.
John Njue (Kenya), 79, Emeritus Archbishop of Nairobi. Created a cardinal on November 24, 2007, by Benedict XVI.
Désiré Tsarahazana (Madagascar), 70, Archbishop of Toamasina. Created a cardinal on June 28, 2018, by Francis.
Cristóbal López Romero (Morocco), 72, Archbishop of Rabat. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Peter Ebere Okpaleke (Nigeria), 62, Bishop of Ekwulobia. Created a cardinal on August 27, 2022, by Francis.
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 65, Archbishop of Kinshasa. Created a cardinal on October 5, 2019, by Francis.
Antoine Kambanda (Rwanda), 66, Archbishop of Kigali. Created a cardinal on November 28, 2020, by Francis.
Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla (South Sudan), 61, Archbishop of Juba. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Protase Rugambwa (Tanzania), 64, Archbishop of Tabora. Created a cardinal on September 30, 2023, by Francis.
Oceanian cardinals (4)
Mykola Bytchok (Australia), 45, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne for Ukrainians. Created a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by Francis.
John Atcherley Dew (New Zealand), 76, Emeritus Archbishop of Wellington. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
John Ribat (Papua New Guinea), 68, Archbishop of Port Moresby. Created a cardinal on November 19, 2016, by Francis.
Soane Patita Paini Mafi (Tonga), 63, Bishop of Tonga. Created a cardinal on February 14, 2015, by Francis.
The Path Ahead for the Church
With great anticipation, the faithful await the conclave’s decision, knowing that it will shape the character of the papacy for years to come in an ever-evolving world.
Please join Catholic World Mission in praying for our Cardinals in the upcoming weeks!
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