Out of 135 cardinals who can vote for the next Pope, 18 are from Africa. While there are 252 cardinals worldwide, only those under 80 years old can take part in the election.
Europe has the most voting cardinals with 53, followed by Asia (23), Africa (18), South America (17), and North America (16). Oceania and Central America have the fewest, with just four each.
The African cardinals include Fridolin Besungu (DR Congo), Ignace Dogbo (Ivory Coast), Stephen Brislin (South Africa), and others from countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Also on the list are Peter Turkson (Ghana), Jean-Paul Vesco (Algeria), and Stephen Mulla (South Sudan).
Most of the voting cardinals—108—were appointed by Pope Francis. The rest were chosen by previous popes, Benedict XVI and John Paul II.
To elect a new Pope, cardinals vote in secret until one candidate gets at least two-thirds of the votes. The process can take days, with multiple rounds of voting.
Some leading candidates to replace Pope Francis include Peter Erdo (Hungary), Matteo Zuppi (Italy), Robert Sarah (Guinea), and Luis Tagle (Philippines).
After Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, cardinals began arriving in Rome. About 60 gathered for the first meeting on Tuesday, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell. They confirmed the Pope’s funeral will be held on Saturday.
More meetings will happen this week, including discussions on Church reforms and when the conclave—the election process—will start. Before voting begins, cardinals swear an oath of secrecy, promising not to reveal anything about the election.
During the conclave, cardinals are cut off from the outside world—no phones, news, or contact with anyone. The first vote is often symbolic, honoring respected cardinals who are not likely to be elected.
After that, they vote four times a day. Each cardinal writes a name on a ballot, then walks to the altar, declaring aloud that his vote is for the person he believes should lead the Church. The ballots are counted, and if no one gets enough votes, the process repeats until a new Pope is chosen.
The world now waits to see who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church.
