Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Hungarian cardinal and archbishop of Budapest Peter Erdo attends the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass at St Peter's Basilica, before the conclave began on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Erdo, 72, is the archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary. He was elected twice to lead the Council of European Episcopal Conferences. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images) (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Reinhard Marx (L) and Chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, during an ecumenical opening church service prior to the premiere of the 42nd Oberammergauer Passionsspiele at Passionstheater on May 14, 2022 in Oberammergau, Germany. Marx, 71, is the archbishop of Munich and Freising and was chosen by Pope Francis to be one of his advisors in 2013. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images) (Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Marc Ouellet attends a conference on the canonization of Junipero Serra in light of 'Ecclesia in America' on May 2, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican. Ouellet, 80, is a retired Canadian prelate who served as the head of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops. He would select candidates for governing churches worldwide in episcopacies. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images) (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Cardinal Secretary of State, conducts a Mass in St Peter's Basilica for The Movement for Life Association. Parolin, 70, is from Italy and has worked with Pope Francis as his secretary of state since 2014. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost leads rosary prayers for the health of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square on March 3, 2025 in Vatican City. Prevost, , 69, is from Chicago, and if selected, would be the first American-born pope. He is now the prefect of the dicastery for bishops. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Robert Sarah greets people outside after the Thanksgiving Mass For the Beatification of Pope John Paul II at St. Mary's Cathedral on May 14, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. Sarah, 79, is the retired head of the Vatican liturgy office and is from Guinea. He was considered, according to the AP, “the best hope for an African pope.” (Photo by Jun Sato/Getty Images) (Jun Sato/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Archbishop of Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schönborn attends a meeting of prayer at St. Peter's Basilica on March 6, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Schönborn, 80, is the archbishop of Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images) (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (C) attends a meeting of prayer at St. Peter's Basilica on March 6, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Tagle 67, is from the Philippines and could become the first Asian pope. He was brought to Rome by Pope Francis to be the head of the missionary evangelization office, which serves much of Asia and Africa. He is one of the youngest contenders in a position that is typically for life. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images) (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Who will become pope? FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi looks on as he attends at the Paul VI hall the second session of the second Synodal Assembly of the Churches in Italy, at the Vatican on April 1, 2025. Zuppi, 69, is the archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops’ conference. He was part of the Vatican group that helped bring an end to the Mozambique civil war in the 1990s and was the peace envoy in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)