The papal conclave following Pope Francis's death will gather 133 cardinals, marking the largest attendance to date, with representatives from 71 different countries. This diverse group reflects Francis's efforts to globalize the Catholic Church, which had previously focused more heavily on Europe. Speculation about potential successors is rampant, but experts suggest that with such a heterogeneous College of Cardinals, predicting the outcome is increasingly complex. The shift in demographics could impact the direction of the Church as it seeks to address contemporary issues.
Speculation is rife. Even on the day of Francis's death, many media outlets posed the question: "Who will be next?" Various names quickly made the rounds.
Augsburg church historian Jorg Ernesti mentioned that it is generally more difficult to predict the outcome of the election today since the College of Cardinals is nationally and culturally more heterogeneous.
Pope Francis had worked to make the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church more universal, breaking with previous customs regarding cardinal appointments and the College of Cardinals.
Currently, 133 cardinals from 71 countries are expected to participate in the conclave, the most diverse representation in the history of papal elections.
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