Overview

• Pope Francis's death on April 21 ended a 12-year papacy marked by reformist priorities and a focus on the Global South.
• The late pope's funeral is set for April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, with world leaders expected to attend.
• Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, is leading betting markets as the most likely candidate to succeed Francis, followed by Luis Antonio Tagle and Matteo Zuppi.
• The upcoming conclave, involving 135 cardinal electors—108 appointed by Francis—will navigate tensions between continuing his progressive legacy and returning to traditional conservatism.
• The next pope will face pressing global challenges, including climate change, mass migration, and rising authoritarianism, requiring bold moral leadership.