Overview

• Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, from a cerebral hemorrhage, marking the start of the sede vacante period for the Catholic Church.
• The papal conclave to elect his successor is scheduled to take place between May 5 and 10, with 133 cardinal electors participating.
• Cardinal Vicente Bokalic Iglic, an Argentine known for his work in marginalized communities, has gained attention as a potential successor to Pope Francis.
• Bokalic’s background includes decades of missionary work, a focus on social justice, and alignment with Francis’s reformist vision for the Church.
• Pilgrims continue to visit Pope Francis’s tomb at Santa María la Mayor, while discussions about his legacy and the Church’s future intensify.