When the Pope of the Catholic Church dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals, composed entirely of cardinals, convenes in a ritual known as the Conclave with the sole purpose of electing the new leader of the Catholic Church. Following Pope Francisco’s death, the cardinals will initiate this ritual that concludes only when white smoke emerges, signifying the selection of the new Holy Father.
Current Composition and Age Distribution of the College of Cardinals
According to data released by Religion Digital, the current 252 cardinals in the College of Cardinals represent 94 countries, and their average age is 69 years. This information is crucial because not everyone can aspire to be Pope or vote in the Conclave.
Mexican Cardinals Eligible to Succeed Pope Francisco
Out of the six Mexican cardinals in the College of Cardinals, only these can aspire to be the next Pope following Pope Francisco’s death:
- Cannot be Pope or vote, age 84: Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, appointed by Francisco.
- Cannot be Pope or vote, age 91: Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, appointed by Juan Pablo II.
- Cannot be Pope or vote, age 82: Norberto Rivera Carrera, appointed by Juan Pablo II.
- Cannot be Pope or vote, age 86: Alberto Suárez Inda, appointed by Francisco.
- Can be Pope and has a vote, age 75: Francisco Robles Ortega, appointed by Benedict XVI.
- Can be Pope and has a vote, age 75: Carlos Aguiar Retes, appointed by Francisco.
Therefore, in a Conclave, the only two Mexican cardinals who could be voted on and have a vote for the new Pope of the Catholic Church are Carlos Aguiar Retes, born on January 9, 1950, and Francisco Robles Ortega, born on March 2, 1949.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the Mexican cardinals eligible to be the next Pope? Carlos Aguiar Retes and Francisco Robles Ortega.
- What is the current composition of the College of Cardinals? There are 252 cardinals representing 94 countries, with an average age of 69.
- What happens in a Conclave? The College of Cardinals convenes to elect the new Pope through a voting process until white smoke emerges from the Sistine Chapel.
