The conclave starts May 7, 2025, and the 133 cardinal-electors will be shut off from the outside world until a new pope is elected.
While technically any Catholic man can be elected pope, the cardinals are almost certainly going to elect one of their own to fill the Chair of St. Peter.
At Aleteia, we’ve already told you about 10 cardinals who just might be elected – but here’s five more you should know about.
(The following five cardinals are presented in alphabetical order by last name, and the order or even the existence of this list is not and should not be considered an endorsement of any cardinal for the papacy.)
Cardinal Wim Eijk
Cardinal Willem Jacobus “Wim” Eijk, 71, is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht, Netherlands, and has been a cardinal since 2012. This is his second conclave.
A Dutchman who was raised by a Protestant father and a Catholic mother, Eijk was a physician before his ordination to the priesthood. He wrote a thesis against euthanasia.
Eijk has been publicly opposed to abortion, euthanasia, gender ideology, and Communion for divorced and remarried. If he were to be elected pope, he would be the second Dutch pope ever – the first since Pope Adrian VI back in 1523.
Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik
Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-Sik, 73, is the prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy and was the first Korean to lead a curial department.
He converted to Catholicism when he was 16 years old, and was ordained a priest at the age of 28. You Heung-sik was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2022.
Since his arrival in the Vatican, You Heung-sik has kept a fairly low profile, but was largely aligned with Pope Francis. He would be the first Asian pope if elected.
Cardinal Robert Prevost
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., is the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. A 69-year-old native of Chicago, the lone Augustinian cardinal-elector has spent the bulk of his career in Peru.
Prevost was appointed to the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals that same year. He is also the head of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
His experience working in South America, the United States, and Rome makes him an intriguing option for the College of Cardinals, but his age could be viewed as a negative as he is relatively young and would likely have a long pontificate.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don – who is most often referred to “Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith” – is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka (once known as Ceylon) is a small island country located off the coast of India and is majority Buddhist.
Ranjith, 77, was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2010. He speaks 10 languages: English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Sinhalese, Spanish, and Tamil.
Aside from his episcopal career, Ranjith additionally served as the apostolic nuncio to Indonesia and Timor-Leste from 2004-2005.
Ranjith is regarded as a more conservative cardinal, but given his wide range of experiences, could be an intriguing compromise pick.
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, 75, is the archbishop of Mexico City. He has been a cardinal since 2016.
Dubbed by some as the “Mexican Francis,” Retes is seen as being theologically and ideologically similar to the late pope.
Retes has not received much buzz, but the election of a Spanish-speaking cardinal from the western hemisphere would definitely be a symbol of continuity with Pope Francis.
