Choosing the Next Pope: Who Are the Top Contenders and What They Believe
The Church Stands at a Crossroads — Tradition or Transformation?
As the Catholic Church prepares for the conclave beginning May 7, 2025, the question burning in the hearts of Catholics worldwide is: Who will lead us next?
The next pope will not only shepherd the world's 1.3 billion Catholics but also set the tone for addressing modern challenges — secularism, social justice, evangelization, and moral teachings.
Here’s a look at the top candidates — their beliefs, leadership styles, and a ranking based on their likely influence on the future Church.
1. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines) — The Evangelizing Pastor
Beliefs: Deeply pastoral, emphasizes compassion, inclusivity, and evangelization. Close to Pope Francis in style. Supports immigrant rights, poverty alleviation, and mercy-focused pastoral care.
Strengths: Charismatic speaker, beloved across continents, bridges East and West.
Vision: A humble, missionary Church that goes out to the margins.
Challenges: Some view him as too gentle for needed internal Church reforms.
➡️ RANK: #1 Most Likely to Continue Francis's Vision
2. Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy) — The Diplomat-In-Chief
Beliefs: A centrist. Prioritizes diplomacy, Church unity, and strong Vatican governance. Has skillfully navigated thorny global relationships (China, Russia).
Strengths: Experienced administrator, knows the Roman Curia inside and out.
Vision: Stability, internal reform, external diplomatic outreach.
Challenges: Some feel he's more of a manager than a visionary.
➡️ RANK: #2 Most Likely to Steady and Strengthen the Church Internally
3. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo (DR Congo) — The Justice Seeker
Beliefs: Focus on social justice, care for the environment, peace advocacy in war-torn regions. Supports Francis's environmental encyclicals.
Strengths: Represents the dynamic growth of African Catholicism.
Vision: A Church that fights for the oppressed and stewards the earth.
Challenges: Less known outside Africa, which may limit broad support.
➡️ RANK: #3 Most Likely to Energize the Global South
4. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy) — The People's Cardinal
Beliefs: Progressive on social issues, deeply pastoral. Known for interfaith work, especially Jewish-Christian relations. Advocates for peacebuilding and marginalized communities.
Strengths: Warm and approachable, close ties to Francis-style reforms.
Vision: A Church of peace, mercy, and dialogue.
Challenges: May face resistance from conservatives wanting a doctrinal tightening.
➡️ RANK: #4 Most Likely to Advance a Pastoral Church
5. Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary) — The Traditional Scholar
Beliefs: Theologically conservative. Defends traditional moral teachings, liturgical formality, and European Christian heritage.
Strengths: Brilliant canon lawyer, highly respected intellect.
Vision: A return to doctrinal clarity and cultural defense.
Challenges: May alienate Catholics yearning for a more pastoral and merciful tone.
➡️ RANK: #5 Most Likely to Lead a Traditionalist Revival
6. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Jerusalem) — The Bridge-Builder
Beliefs: Strong commitment to interfaith dialogue (especially with Judaism and Islam). Moderate conservative views.
Strengths: Experience in Middle East conflict zones gives him unique peacemaking credibility.
Vision: Healing divisions both inside and outside the Church.
Challenges: Limited global profile compared to others.
➡️ RANK: #6 Most Likely to Promote Global Religious Dialogue
7. Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) — The Eco-Social Reformer
Beliefs: Passionate about climate change, poverty, and integral human development. Progressive on social justice, moderate on doctrinal issues.
Strengths: A prophetic voice on global inequities.
Vision: A Church that leads on environmental and humanitarian issues.
Challenges: Lack of strong Vatican bureaucratic experience.
➡️ RANK: #7 Most Likely to Make the Church a Moral Global Leader
8. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (France) — The Multicultural Shepherd
Beliefs: Advocates for immigrant inclusion, urban evangelization, interfaith dialogue.
Strengths: Captures the spirit of a multicultural, secular Europe.
Vision: A Church that walks alongside modern society without losing its soul.
Challenges: Seen as too localized to European challenges.
➡️ RANK: #8 Most Likely to Appeal to a Secularized West
9. Cardinal Robert Sarah (Guinea) — The Voice of Orthodoxy
Beliefs: Very conservative. Emphasizes traditional liturgy (Latin Mass), strict moral teachings, and warns against secularism corrupting the Church.
Strengths: Beloved among traditionalist Catholics worldwide.
Vision: A Church of clear, countercultural witness.
Challenges: Strongly divisive figure; many view him as too rigid for the modern era.
➡️ RANK: #9 Most Likely to Drastically Reverse Francis's Reforms
10. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (USA) — The Traditionalist Firebrand
Beliefs: Hardline traditionalist. Open critic of Pope Francis's reforms, defends pre-Vatican II teachings and strict moral clarity.
Strengths: Hero to staunch traditionalists.
Vision: A complete return to tradition and confrontation with modernism.
Challenges: Highly polarizing; very unlikely to gather enough votes.
➡️ RANK: #10 Least Likely to Win — but Symbolically Significant
Final Thoughts
The Catholic Church stands at a decisive moment.
Will it continue Pope Francis’s pastoral, outward-looking vision (Tagle, Zuppi, Ambongo)?
Will it choose stability and administrative expertise (Parolin)?
Or swing back toward doctrinal firmness and tradition (Erdő, Sarah, Burke)?
Most signs suggest the Cardinals may favor a moderate progressive candidate — someone who can both build on Pope Francis's legacy and lead a unified, credible Church into a complex future.