Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, preparations are underway for the conclave that will elect the next pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Out of 252 cardinals worldwide, 135 are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in the secret ballot.
Among the electors, Africa is represented by 18 cardinals, including notable figures such as Fridolin Besungu (DR Congo), Robert Sarah (Guinea), and Peter Okpaleke (Nigeria). Europe leads with 53 electors, followed by Asia (23), Africa (18), South America (17), North America (16), and Oceania and Central America with four each.
The majority of the electors—108—were appointed by Pope Francis, with 22 appointed by Pope Benedict XVI and five by Pope John Paul II.
Leading candidates to succeed Pope Francis include Peter Erdo (Hungary), Matteo Zuppi (Italy), Luis Tagle (Philippines), and African cardinal Robert Sarah.
Currently, cardinals are holding general congregations at the Vatican to plan the Pope’s funeral and prepare for the conclave. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday, and Pope Francis’ body will lie in state at the Basilica starting Wednesday.
During the conclave, strict secrecy is enforced, with electors taking solemn oaths and cut off from outside communication. Voting is conducted in four rounds daily, with a two-thirds majority required to elect a new pope.
