Who will be the next pope? Conclave 2025
Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo of Ajaccio, France, is surrounded by members of the media as he approaches the Petriano entrance next to St. Peter’s Square to attend a general congregation meeting in the New Synod Hall at the Vatican April 25, 2025. (CNS/Lola Gomez)
When the world's Catholic cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to elect the next pontiff, eight out of ten will share one primary thing in common: They were all elevated to their rank by Pope Francis. As they gather for what is expected to be the largest conclave in history, the cardinals now face a stark choice: to continue along the path of reform as the trailblazing Francis — of opening the church up to the modern world and making its structures more inclusive — or to initiate a course correction. Find our coverage of papabile candidates here.
