The article from The New York Times discusses the challenges in predicting the next Pope, given the diverse appointments made by Pope Francis. The unpredictability is further amplified by the many new cardinals from various regions who may not be well-acquainted with each other.
While Cardinals Pietro Parolin (Italy) and Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle (Philippines) have been frequently mentioned as potential successors, the article emphasizes the inherent unpredictability of the conclave.
The selection process is complicated by the lack of clear factions within the College of Cardinals, a result of Pope Francis' appointments. The article highlights the ongoing discussions and scrutiny of statements from cardinals to understand whether the next Pope will follow Francis's path or adopt a more traditional approach.
Ultimately, the article stresses the multitude of potential candidates and the high likelihood of a surprising outcome.
Guesses about who the next Roman Catholic pope will be often prove inaccurate. Before the selection of Pope Francis in 2013, many bookmakers had not even counted him among the front-runners.
This time, predictions are further complicated, because Francis made many appointments in a relatively short period during his tenure, diversifying the College of Cardinals and making it harder to identify movements and factions within the group.
Still, discussion of potential names began long ago behind the Vatican’s walls and beyond. As the cardinals began meeting in Rome after Pope Francis’ funeral, papal watchers scrutinized snippets of statements emerging from their discussions, trying to discern whether the electors were leaning toward a candidate who would build on Francis’ agenda or one who would represent a return to a more traditional style.
Cardinals Pietro Parolin of Italy and Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle of the Philippines have been the most mentioned candidates to replace Pope Francis in the days before the conclave, which starts Wednesday. But conclaves are often unpredictable, and this one — with so many new cardinals from so many places who do not know each other well — has even more potential to surprise. A long list of other contenders has already emerged.
If you often open multiple tabs and struggle to keep track of them, Tabs Reminder is the solution you need. Tabs Reminder lets you set reminders for tabs so you can close them and get notified about them later. Never lose track of important tabs again with Tabs Reminder!
Try our Chrome extension today!
Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more