Overview

• The College of Cardinals is expected to confirm the start date of the conclave, likely between May 5 and May 10, during ongoing general congregations.
• Pietro Parolin, former Cardinal Secretary of State and a close ally of Pope Francis, remains a leading contender, though speculation has shifted towards Jean-Marc Aveline for his discretion on divisive issues.
• The conclave will feature 134 voting cardinals from 71 nations, the most diverse electorate in Church history, reflecting the globalized nature of Catholicism under Francis.
• Pope Francis's burial in Santa Maria Maggiore, a departure from traditional Vatican burials, has been interpreted as a final symbolic gesture against institutional hierarchy.
• The late pope's reformist legacy, including governance overhauls and a focus on marginalized communities, is central to discussions on the Church's direction under its next leader.