Coverage dated April 20, 2025 to April 21, 2025

Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible candidates | News Channel 3-12

Headline from KEYT Santa Barbara, on the newest of 2 developments

CNN, VATICAN MEDIA, GETTY IMAGES By Christopher Lamb, Alicia Johnson, Jhasua Razo and Sarah-Grace Mankarious, CNN Rome (CNN) — An old saying about

KEYT Santa Barbara's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Apr 21, 2025
Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible candidates
Headline from KVIA El Paso ·
Apr 22, 2025Newest
Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible candidates | News Channel 3-12
Headline from KEYT Santa Barbara ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

39 articles, oldest first.

ABC 7 Los Angeles
Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope? (opens ABC 7 Los Angeles)
Published Apr 20, 2025
ABC 7 Los Angeles's feed description
Even though cardinals don't campaign for the job, there are always front-runners going into a conclave to choose the next pope.
Boston
Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible contenders. (opens Boston)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Boston's feed description
Experts say there isn’t a single front-runner, but several names have been cited as indications of which direction the Church might take.
Newsweek
The next Pope: who are the frontrunners to succeed Pope Francis? (opens Newsweek)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Newsweek's feed description
The new pope's leadership will set the tone for the Church's future, whether continuing Francis's progressive reforms or shifting back toward conservatism.
NBC4 Washington
Who will be the next pope? 9 cardinal names to know (opens NBC4 Washington)
Published Apr 20, 2025
NBC4 Washington's feed description
Who is in line to be the next pope following Pope Francis' death? Here are some frontrunners to know before cardinals select a new pontiff.
Deutsche Welle
Who will be the next pope after Francis? – DW (opens Deutsche Welle)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Deutsche Welle's feed description
Speculation is already starting about most likely candidates to succeed Pope Francis as the next pontiff and pastoral leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. The conclave of cardinals has the final say.
NBC News
Who will be the next pope? Here are some of the contenders (opens NBC News)
Published Apr 20, 2025
NBC News's feed description
Dust off the history books and there are papal conclaves with international intrigue, royal rigging and even riots, a checkered past that belies the air of sanctity and solemnity surrounding modern papal elections.
WMUR
Who will be the next pope? Shortlist after Pope Francis’ death (opens WMUR)
Published Apr 20, 2025
WMUR's feed description
Cardinals from around the world must gather for the conclave in which Francis’ successor is selected. Who's on the shortlist?
The Guardian
Who will be the next pope? Some potential candidates to succeed Francis (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 20, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
A ‘continuity’ pick, the possible first Asian pope or first black pontiff in centuries are among likely contenders
Philadelphia Inquirer
Who will be the next pope? Here’s how leaders of the Catholic church will pick the new pontiff. (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description
Members of the church’s College of Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Current regulations limit the number of electors to 120.
Al Jazeera
Who will be the next pope after Francis? The selection process, what’s next (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Al Jazeera's feed description
Potential successors to Pope Francis are Ghana’s Peter Turkson, Luis Tagle of the Philippines and Hungary’s Peter Erdo.
Seattle Times
AP PHOTOS: Cardinals seen as contenders to be the next pope (opens Seattle Times)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Seattle Times's feed description
Even though cardinals don’t campaign for the job, there are always front-runners going into a conclave to choose the next pope. These candidates, known as “papabile,” have what are regarded...
Fox News
Who could be the next pope? (opens Fox News)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Fox News's feed description
Pope Francis died Monday morning, prompting the College of Cardinals to begin the process of choosing a successor. Here are six leading candidates.
KVIA El Paso
Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible candidates (opens KVIA El Paso)
Published Apr 21, 2025
KVIA El Paso's feed description
By Christopher Lamb, Alicia Johnson, Jhasua Razo and Sarah-Grace Mankarious, CNN Rome (CNN) — An old saying about papal elections goes as follows: “He who enters the conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal.
KTVB Boise
Several cardinals are already seen as contenders to be the next pope. Here's who they are (opens KTVB Boise)
Published Apr 21, 2025
KTVB Boise's feed description
There are always front-runners in a conclave, known as “papabile,” who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope.
WHEC Rochester
Who are the contenders for becoming the next pope? (opens WHEC Rochester)
Published Apr 21, 2025
WHEC Rochester's feed description
After the death of Pope Francis at age 88, all eyes will be on the selection of the next leader of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
KEYT Santa Barbara
Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible candidates | News Channel 3-12 (opens KEYT Santa Barbara)
Published Apr 21, 2025
KEYT Santa Barbara's feed description
CNN, VATICAN MEDIA, GETTY IMAGES By Christopher Lamb, Alicia Johnson, Jhasua Razo and Sarah-Grace Mankarious, CNN Rome (CNN) — An old saying about

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.