Attention has swiftly shifted to the upcoming conclave, where cardinals will soon gather in secrecy to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church after Pope Francis has been laid to rest.
On Saturday, an estimated 400,000 mourners—including world leaders and royalty—joined the funeral rites at the Vatican and burial ceremony in Rome, honoring the Argentine pope whose legacy as a tireless advocate for the poor and vulnerable has left a deep imprint on the Church.
Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, was remembered for his transformative leadership. Among the faithful, there is both gratitude and apprehension over who will succeed him.
“He made the Church more accessible, more human,” said Romina Cacciatore, a 48-year-old Argentinian translator living in Italy. “I’m anxious about what lies ahead.”
In the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP) sought to dispel speculation about papal frontrunners, clarifying that no specific cardinal has emerged as a favorite ahead of the conclave.
CBCP spokesperson Fr. Jerome Secillano explained in a Super Radyo dzBB interview that any of the 135 voting cardinals could become the next pope, provided they secure a two-thirds majority.
“During the general congregations where they discuss key issues, that’s when they gradually discern who might be the right choice. There’s no campaigning or designated frontrunner,” he emphasized.
Cardinals will convene Monday at 9:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) for their fifth general meeting since Francis’s death, during which they are expected to finalize the date for the start of the conclave.
Traditionally held within the frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel, the papal election has captivated the world for centuries. The cardinal-electors are expected to cast up to four ballots daily until one candidate achieves the required majority, signaled by the white smoke rising above the Vatican.
Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich predicted last week that the conclave could begin around May 5 or 6, shortly after the nine-day mourning period concludes on May 4. German Cardinal Reinhard Marx added that the voting would likely last only “a few days”
Francis’s funeral, set against a backdrop of bright spring skies in St. Peter’s Square, was a moving blend of solemn ritual and heartfelt tributes to the Church’s first Latin American pope.
Starting Sunday, the public will be allowed to visit his final resting place—a simple marble tomb in Santa Maria Maggiore, his beloved Roman church—making him the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
During the funeral homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re praised Francis for his unwavering support of migrants, his relentless calls for peace, and his insistence that the Church be a “home for all.”
Mourners voiced hope that the next pope would build on Francis’s legacy, particularly in a world grappling with conflict and a rise in right-wing populism.
Cardinal Marx noted that the selection of the next pope remains wide open. “It’s not about being conservative or progressive,” he said. “The new pope must have a universal vision.”
More than 220 of the Catholic Church’s 252 cardinals attended Saturday’s funeral, with many expected to visit Francis’s tomb again on Sunday afternoon. A special mass, led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin—Francis’s secretary of state and considered a strong contender for the papacy—will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:30 a.m. (0830 GMT).
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, with 135 currently qualified—many of whom were appointed by Francis himself. However, experts caution against assuming the next pope will be a mirror image of the late pontiff.
Papal succession has historically brought striking shifts: Francis’s pastoral style was a sharp contrast to his predecessor Benedict XVI’s scholarly reserve, just as Benedict differed from the charismatic and athletic John Paul II.
Francis’s reforms stirred unease among traditionalists, some of whom now hope for a return to a stricter doctrinal focus.
Cardinals preparing for the conclave acknowledge the immense responsibility they bear.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “All eyes turn to conclave after Pope Francis’s funeral”