The Cardinals to the Vatican to choose the successor of Pope Francis. And it was confirmed that two of them were discharged, so the conclave will remain in a total of 133 cardinals: Most to name the new Supreme Pontiff are 89 votes.
The two cardinals who will not be present are the bosnium VINKO PULJI and Spanish Antonio Cañizares.
With deep theological divisions and an increasingly global Catholic Church, the next conclave could mark the most dramatic power change in the modern history of the Church.
The cardinal Antonio Cañizares, 79archbishop emeritus of Valencia, with vote option, will not attend for “Health reasons”according to sources from the Valencian Bishopric to El País.
This decline adds to that of the bosnium Vinko Puljić, 79, who will not be present due to their delicate state of health. “My health does not allow me to attend a third conclave. Doctors do not advise me and I don’t think I can physically resist. I will not go to Rome, unless the Vatican expressly requests me. I have learned to listen“He explained to Radio- television herceg-bosna.
Who will choose the successor of Pope Francis
He Cardenalicio College It is the ecclesiastical organ of the Catholic Church composed of the cardinals, who act as the main advisors of the Pope and, after the death of Francisco, have the responsibility of choosing their successor.
Only the cardinals children under 80 years They can participate in the Conclavethe process by which the new Pontiff is chosen. Currently, of the 252 cardinals that make up the school, only 138 meet this requirement and, therefore, will be entitled to vote in the election of the next Pope.
Eight of the cardinals are Argentinesbut only four, all of them ordered by Pope Francis, will participate in the conclave:
- Víctor Manuel FernándezPrefect of Dicastery for the doctrine of faith, 62.
- Angel Sixto RossiMetropolitan Archbishop of Córdoba, 66.
- Vicente Bokalic IglicArchbishop of Santiago del Estero and Primado de Argentina, 72.
- Mario Aurelio PoliMetropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires, 77.
The other four Argentine cardinals – Lelo Sandri, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Great East Chancellor of the Eastern Pontifical Institute and Dean attached to the College of Cardinals, 81; Luis Héctor Villalba, Archbishop Emeritus of Tucumán, 90s; Luis Pastor Dri, confessor in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Pompeya, 97; and Estanislao Esteban Karlic, Archbishop Emeritus of Paraná, 99 years old – They do not meet the age requirement.
How were the members of the Cardinal College chosen?
The Pope is in charge of choosing the new cardinals, an appointment that is announced in a town hall, a formal meeting convened by the High pontiffgenerally public, in which the list of new cardinals is announced. Cardinals can be chosen between bishops, archbishops or even clergy who do not occupy an episcopal headquarters, as long as they are at least bishops of the Catholic Church.
Of the current cardinals, 41 were ordered by the Pope John Paul IIwho, during his pontificate (1978-2005), appointed a total of 231. During his pontificate (2005-2013), Pope Benedict XVI appointed a total of 90 cardinals, of which 62 are still alive today. For its part, the Pope Francisco He has appointed 149 cardinals, turning this task into one of his prominent aspects of his papacy.
Francisco’s last session took place in December 2024, which appointed 21 new cardinals, including representatives from Latin American countries as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.
The average age of the cardinals varies constantly due to the new designations and the deaths of older cardinals. However, it is estimated that the average age of active cardinals (those under 80 who can participate in a conclave to choose the Pope) 70 years. Pope Francis has tried to balance age at the Cardenalicio College, naming younger cardinals.
Despite the Pope’s efforts Francisco for internationalizing the Cardinalio College, Most cardinals remain from Europe. As for nationalities distribution, Italy remains the most frequent, with a total of 52 cardinals.
The cardinals are a key part in the structure of government and leadership of the Catholic Church, with advisory roles, election of the Pope, administration of the Roman curiaand promotion of the doctrinal and pastoral unit in the world. The school is divided into three orders: Cardinals Bishops, presbyter cardinals and deacons cardinals.
Of the Argentine cardinal eights, two were ordered by Pope Benedict XVI ―Karlic and Sandri – and six by Pope Francis. One of the most controversial appointments was that of the Cardinal Víctor Manuel “Tucho” Fernández (62), an Argentine theologian of progressive trend.
The cardinal Angel Sixto Rossi (66) is an Argentine Jesuit prelate and a prolific writer. Cardinal Vicente Bokalic Iglic (72), archbishop of Santiago del Estero and current primacy of Argentina. Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli (77) is archbishop emeritus of Buenos Aires.
The cardinal Leonardo Sandri (81) He is an Argentine diplomat retired from the Holy See. Cardinal Luis Héctor Villalba (90) is a retired Argentine prelate. Cardinal Luis Pascual Dri (97) is known for his dedication to the sacrament of reconciliation. Cardinal Estanislao Esteban Karlic (99) is a retired Argentine prelate.
