Pope Francis and the Papal Conclave

By Natalia Rossier '28

Who was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis (born December 17, 1936, Buenos Aires, Argentina—died April 21, 2025,

Vatican City) ushered in a new era of leadership in the Roman Catholic Church when he was elected pope in 2013. As the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first from South America, and the first from the Jesuit order, Francis brought many reforms to the church and a reputation for humility  (Britannica).

The Passing of Pope Francis

On April 21st, the Monday after Easter, the Roman Catholic Church’s beloved Pope Francis passed away. The pope's sickness, followed by his sudden death, caused immense sadness among crowds in Vatican City and all over the world. Roman Catholics worldwide gathered in Vatican City to show their respect. Cardinals and religious leaders gathered at the Pope’s funeral on April 26th, paying homage to his legacy.

What's next?

Many have found the death of the Pope extremely difficult to accept. Yet, the Pope's job holds power and influence and must remain intact to remain in order. This begs the question: Who will take his place? Several names have been mentioned in the discussion of who will replace Pope Francis.

Candidates:

A few names that are most relevant to the topic of who will become the pope include: 

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Peter Erdo, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Cardinal Mario Grech, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, etc. Although there

is a list of possible front-runners, it is extremely hard to predict who the next pope will be. A process of choosing must occur, called the Pontifical Conclave, and decided by a group of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80. The conclave is expected to begin in mid-May. Conclaves usually last from 1-3 days,  4 days being the longest in modern times. The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel, where all cardinals must stay until the process has ended. 

       We may not know who will replace Pope Francis, but we can hope that whoever does will follow in Pope Francis' footsteps.

As an important update post the writing of this feature, a new Pope has been selected; and Notre Dame School is thrilled to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Provost, a Chicago native!

All Photos Courtesy of wzdm.com and cnn.com 

Sources: nytimes.com, brittanica.com and cbsnews.com 

Edited By: Catherine Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant

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