Pope in the Vatican

After Pope Francis’s death at the age of 88, the world is waiting to see who will follow them, while the cardinals gather in Rome for the papal conclave. Pope Francis was the first Latin American Pope, an aspect that reported a wider change within the Catholic Church. Under these conditions, many people wonder if we will now see the first color or originating pope in Asia. Here are the best competitors to become the next supreme pontiff…

Peter Turkson, 76

The former bishop born in Ghana was sent by Pope Francis as a peace emission in the South Sudan. He occupies the middle place on the complicated subject of homosexual relationships, arguing that the laws in many African countries are too harsh, but that African opinions on this subject must be respected. Turkson was the favorite of betting houses at one point during the 2013 conclave, when Francis was chosen.

Luis Antonio Tagle, 67

Tagle, the former Archbishop of Manila, became a leader in the betting markets. Tagle could be the first Asian Pope, the region with the fastest growth of the Catholic population. He opposed the right to abortion in the Philippines, but would be considered one of the most liberal candidates. The former Archbishop of Manila complained that the Catholic Church was too harsh to gay and divorced couples and that this prevented the evangelical activity.

Pietro Parolin, 70 years old

Parolin worked closely with Pope Francis, but he upset some of his opinions about China. He worked with Pope Francis as a cardinal Secretary of State and is seen as a moderate, although not as close to the liberal wing. When Ireland voted in 2015 to legalize same-sex marriages, Parolin described it as « a defeat for humanity. » Lately, Parolin’s star has gone a little because he was the architect of the 2018 agreement between the Holy See and China, which some consider an act of sale to the Chinese Communist Party.

Peter Erdo, 72 years
The Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest would be the second pope, after John Paul II, who would come from the former Soviet block. He advocated for his predecessor, Jozsef Minszenty, to be exempted after he was arrested for opposing the communist regime of Hungary. Erdo is a profound conservative who spoke against divorced or remarried Catholics who receive Holy Communion.

Jose Tountino, 59
Coming from Madeira, Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo’s native place, Tountino He served as an archbishop and held a series of roles in the Vatican. He claimed that bibliists are involved in the modern world watching movies and listening to music.

Matteo Zuppi, 69
Zuppi is an Archbishop of Bologna in 2015 and was appointed cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019. Two years ago, the Pope named Vatican for Ukraine, in which he visited Moscow to « encourage humanity gestures. » Although he had no audience with Putin, he met the controversial ally of the president, Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, but had few diplomatic progress.

Mario Grach, 68
Cardinal Grech has played a key role in promoting Pope Francis’s vision for a more inclusive and participatory church. Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, he asked the Church to « learn a new language » when dealing with gay and divorced couples, although he is also seen as a traditionalist.

Robert Sarah, 79

Born in French Guinea, Sarah is another option to become the first pope of color – although the age is not on his side. He worked in positions of the Vatican since the time of John Paul II. Conservative, he denounced gender ideology as a threat to society. He also spoke against Islamic fundamentalism.

Photo source https://www.vatican.va