Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presides over the Easter Vigil in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 19, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - No one knows who the world's Catholic cardinals will choose to succeed Pope Francis as the new leader of the global Catholic Church. But for those watching attentively, there are sometimes hints about who might emerge as the next pontiff.
The process to choose a new pope is long and secretive. Most of the world's 252 cardinals are coming to Rome to take part. Those under the age of 80, about 135 prelates, are preparing to enter into a conclave to elect the next pontiff.
