Following the announcement of Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church is now in the process of selecting a new leader. An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics paid their respects during the pontiff’s farewell, while nine candidates, all men and averaging 69 years old, have emerged as frontrunners for the papacy. Notable candidates include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the favorite with a 40% chance, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who could become the first Asian pope, and Cardinal Peter Turkson, known for his liberal views but facing challenges from more conservative cardinals.
