Pope Francis has been hospitalized since February 14 for pneumonia of the two lungs. The Vatican has given reassuring news about his state of health, but precautions are taken for his succession.
How will Pope Francis’ succession take place? As tradition dictates, a pope exercises his functions until his death, exceptions made of Célestin V (1294) and Benoît XVI (2013), then the cardinals meet during a conclave to choose which of them will be The successor. At the beginning of 2025, Pope Francis’s state of health worried the Vatican sufficiently for the question to be asked. Although reassuring news has been given through a press release from the Holy See, the pontiff suffers from pneumonia that affects his two lungs. Pope Francis has already written his letter of resignation, since the day of his election in 2013, but he would not intend to put it back and exercise his functions until the end of his life.
A successor who has the same ambitions?
The different cardinals will, perhaps, must soon choose a successor to the 88-year-old pontiff. He knows it and already works for his successor to have the same ambitions for the Church. Indeed, despite certain criticisms, Pope Francis is seen as progressive, especially with reforms that push towards more female inclusiveness in key positions, to strengthen financial transparency within the Church, to fight sexual abuse … which he does not want them to be dismantled after his departure.
He then organized himself to preserve his inheritance, according to the Belgian media The free. He notably extended the mandate of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the Cardinals College, which is a central place within the Conclave, which will make it possible to designate who will be the next Pope. This does not mean that this cardinal will be chosen, but that his position will allow him a greater influence.
Who are the most likely candidates?
Three names are particularly coming back to the table when it comes to the succession of Pope Francis: Pietro Parolin, Matteo Maria Zuppi and Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The first is an Italian cardinal, secretary of state and number 2 of the Vatican, but deemed too “erased” to take the head of the Holy See. The second is Archbishop of Bologna, but tried too close to the Sant’Egidio movement, an association of Catholic faithful. Finally, the third is the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and is tried too young to exercise these functions, from the top of its 58 years.
For the moment, it will therefore be necessary to be satisfied with rumors, corridor noise and assumptions. Pope Francis continues to exercise his duties from the hospital and does not intend to stop there, although his schedule has been largely lightened for the coming weeks.