Following the passing of , global attention is focused on the College of Cardinals as they prepare to gather and elect the next pope.

The conclave, managed by the camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, will commence 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death.

Tim Gabrielli, an associate professor and Gudorf chair in intellectual traditions at the University of Dayton, Ohio, told Digital, “Anything is possible.”

Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on April 21, 2025, after a 12-year reign as the Bishop of Rome.

“It’s really hard to say,” he stated regarding who will succeed Pope Francis. “Anyone who claims to know is likely just guessing.”

Potential candidates mentioned include Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, and American Cardinal Raymond Burke.

“It’s important to remember that the cardinal electors, as the name ‘conclave’ suggests, will be locked away, shielded from media and other influences,” Gabrielli noted.

“This group consists of important figures in the Church from around the world, gathering together, and they haven’t had much time to interact as a group,” Gabrielli added.

Pope Francis appointed over 100 cardinals, including those from developing nations.

“Christ is found on the periphery,” Gabrielli said.

During the conclave, cardinals cast votes via secret ballot. A two-thirds majority is needed for a successful election. After each vote, the ballots are counted aloud and then burned. The resulting smoke signals the status of the election to the world and those gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Black smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel indicates another round of voting is necessary. White smoke signifies that a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church has been chosen.

This private process, which continues until a decision is reached, differs significantly from U.S. presidential, state, and local elections. However, the unique election process often leads to comparisons between potential “papabile” cardinals and U.S. political parties – and Democrat.

“It’s tempting to try and categorize people using our political framework,” Gabrielli said. “But that doesn’t really work within the Church. There are different priorities and points of emphasis.”

“This is a vastly different process,” he reiterated.

The College of Cardinals elected Pope Francis in 2013 when he was 76 years old. At that time, he was not considered a leading candidate.

Some Catholics viewed the former head of the Church as “unconventional” and often criticized what they saw as his progressive approach to global leadership.

During his 12 years as pope, Francis emphasized expanding equality within the Catholic Church, including providing pathways for divorced Catholics and blessings for same-sex couples.

“My sense is that he was particularly interested in setting certain processes and structures in motion, such as the recent work on synodality,” Gabrielli explained.

Pope Francis also fostered discussion around . His dedication to environmental protection aligned with the efforts of his predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.

“He was continuing that momentum,” Gabrielli said. “There’s a clear thread of continuity there.”

Currently, there are 252 living cardinals. However, only leading members of the church under 80 years old are eligible to vote. The voting college is capped at 120 cardinal electors.

This limit was established by Pope John Paul VI in 1975.

“I think it’s possible that someone seen as aligned with Pope Francis could be chosen,” Gabrielli said of the next pope. “But it’s also possible that someone with a different set of priorities than Pope Francis could be elected.”