There are currently 135 cardinals with voting rights who can participate in the conclave to elect a new pope after the death of Pope Francis. In doubt is the position of Spanish Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, who will turn 80 on May 16 and loses his right to vote, according to Church rules.
Pope Francis has appointed 163 cardinals since the beginning of his pontificate in 2013, of whom 133 were electors at the time of their appointment. Today, 107 of the 135 cardinals with the right to vote have been appointed by him, representing an overwhelming majority in the upcoming Conclave.
However, this majority is not homogeneous. Among them are cardinals with different views, even outspoken opponents of Pope Francis, such as the German Gerhard Ludwig Müller. Some African and Asian cardinals display more conservative positions on ethical issues, compared to the more liberal approach of some European colleagues.
Pope Francis has also transformed the geographical composition of the College of Cardinals, giving greater representation to Churches in developing countries and the world's peripheries. Of the 135 electors: 59 come from Europe (19 from Italy), 37 from the Americas (16 from North America, 4 from Central America, 17 from South America), 20 from Asia, 16 from Africa and 3 from Oceania.
The Conclave will also be attended by 34 representatives of religious orders, including Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans and Salesians.
The youngest is Ukrainian Mykola Byčok (45 years old), while the oldest, temporarily, remains Spaniard Osoro Sierra, followed by just a month by Guinean Robert Sarah. (A2 Televizion)
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