Headline Roundup • May 3rd, 2025
Who Will Be The Next Pope?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Vatican on Wednesday began the conclave where cardinals will vote on the next pope. As of Thursday morning, several inconclusive ballots had been conducted, with more votes to come later in the day.
How Voting Works: All 252 cardinals will attend a special mass before heading into the Sistine Chapel where they take a vow of secrecy and vote in private. Only 133 of the cardinals are eligible to vote because those over the age of 80 are only allowed to take part in debate, and are forbidden from voting. Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot and drops it into the chalice. There are up to four rounds of voting per day. If no one has reached the required two-thirds threshold, the ballots are burned with chemicals that make black smoke. When a new pope is selected, the smoke will be white.
What to Expect: Pope Francis appointed 108 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote, so while some moderate conservatives may be able to block a candidate they consider radical, it's unlikely a staunchly conservative candidate will be elected. An ideal candidate would likely be charismatic, diplomatic, ideologically moderate, and have the skills to fix the church's budget deficit. While the majority of popes have been Italian, other popes have come from France, Germany, Syria, and Greece.
Who Are The Candidates?: Cardinal Pietro Parolin is the Vatican's current secretary of state and is known for his diplomatic skills. He is the 15-to-8 favorite according to sports betting platform OLBG. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle is a Filipino cardinal closely aligned with Pope Francis' views and is seen as the second most likely candidate. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is another progressive candidate who could continue Francis' legacy.
Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Updated 5/8/25 at 9:03am ET.
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