The Catholic Church is set to elect a new leader after Pope Francis’ death at 88.
Cardinals under 80 will gather at the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to choose the next pope.
135 cardinals are eligible to vote, many of whom have never met before.
Pope Francis had appointed cardinals from countries like Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda.
The cardinals have met four times to get to know each other.
The Sistine Chapel is being prepared for the conclave.
Top Contenders
Some cardinals are being closely watched:
- Pietro Parolin, an Italian and Vatican Secretary of State
- Luis Antonio Tagle, a Filipino and former Archbishop of Manila
- Peter Turkson, a Ghanaian cardinal
Others being considered are:
- Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna
- Robert Sarah, a Guinean cardinal
- Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
The conclave will decide the future of the Catholic Church.
The new pope will lead the 1.3 billion-strong Catholic community worldwide.
It’s unclear who will be chosen, but the cardinals’ decision will have a significant impact.