Sede Vacante, The Throne Is Empty: Who Will Replace Pope Francis?

Pope Francis' body was still laid on the chapel of Casa Santa Marta before being buried for his final respects at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican. (Vatican Media Divisione Photo)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis' death on April 21, the Holy See at the Vatican is empty. In Latin, the void is known as the Sede Vacante. The vacuum of power situation from the last absolute monarchy on earth will last until the newly elected Pope after the conclave, or the Pope's election, which was likely to be held in early May.

Pope Francis, former Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina with the birth name Jorge Mario Borgeglio died from a stroke, or the day after he appeared last before a congregation in St. Peter's Basilica to wish him a happy Easter. Pope Francis died at the age of 88. He was born of Italian descent in Buenos Aires, December 17, 1936.

Pope Francis' body is currently laid in the main space of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican. The people were still given the opportunity to pay their last respects before his body was buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Vatican through a procession that began on Saturday 26 April 2025 at 10.00 local time.

According to media reports, in a day no less than 90,000 people come to pay their last respects to Pope Francis. They consist of various groups, ranging from ordinary people, monks and monks, celebrities, to politicians from 184 countries who have diplomatic relations with the Vatican.

"When I saw his body in a wooden coffin, I could only say: Thank God, You have given us a very humble Pope. He is a good role model for us servants of God. He is a spiritual leader, and has shown and set an example of how he should be a Christian," said Sister Marcedita Placio Sabaga-a from the Philippines, as quoted by the BBC.

Sister Marcedita also added that she hoped that the next Pope would come from Asia, after Pope Francis was the first person from outside Europe to rule the Holy See.

"But only God knows who the next Pope is, and I will accept," said Sister Marcedita added.

Currently as many as 1.4 billion Roman Catholics around the world are waiting for the new Pope. The resulting decision will have a profound impact on the life of a church for religions with the most adherents in the world.

The process of selecting the Pope, called the conclave, will be held at the Sistina Chapel, Vatican, where the resulting decisions always produce surprises. As happened to Pope Francis in 2013, when the situation 'politician' at the Vatican heated up to the point that Pope Benedict XVI could not control.

The conservative Pope Benedict XVI finally resigned, because he thought it was the only way to stop the less conducive political' situation. Through his resignation, the kabinet will be dissolved and must be formed new. Pope Benedict XVI's decision was very surprising, because he was the only Pope to withdraw from the throne in the last 600 years.

Konklaf in 2013 finally chose Pope Francis as a replacement for Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope from Argentina is progressive, which contradicts the XVI Benedict who is from Germany and mine.

With 80 percent of the cardinals who will follow the conclave later is the result of the appointment of Pope Francis, they are required not only to choose the Pope after his wish, but also to look at a broader global perspective. And for the first time, in the conclusion, the number of cardinals who own votes from Europe is less than half.

Because of these conditions, it is predicted that this conclave will take place more difficult than before. The problems faced by conclave participants are more complex than 12 years ago. Apart from the large number of cardinals from outside Europe, the world's problems that are plagued by war in the Middle East and Europe, refugees, economic wars, minimization, and marginalized people such as LGBT also do not recede.

Is it possible that the cardinals will choose a Pope who is from Africa or Asia? Or maybe they will return to old traditions, choosing a Pope from the Cardinal who has long been intertwined with administration in the Vatican country?

Various sources have mentioned several names that are considered strong candidates to replace Pope Francis. There are 12 names that are touted as strong candidates for the new Pope. Of the 12 names, three are from Africa, one from Asia, three from America, and five from Europe who are old people in the Vatican.

Of the 252 cardinals in today's world, 134 people have the right to follow the conclave. But conclaf will be followed by 133 Cardinals, after Cardinal Antonio Camizares Llovera of Spain decided not to vote. This number is the largest in Rome's Catholic history in the modern era.

Since the XVI century, the number of cardinals who have the right to vote in the conclave has been set at a maximum of 70 people. But in 1958, Pope John XXIII changed the rules by making more voters. As happened during the 1963 election of Pope Paul VI which was followed by 80 Cardinals.

The number of voters in the conclave swelled during the election of Pope John Paul I in 1978, namely 111 people. The same number was in effect during the election of Pope John Paul II in 1978, as a replacement for Pope John Paul I, who only served as Pope for a month to die on September 28, 1978 after being elected on August 26 that year.

During the selection of Pope Benedict XVI in conclave 2005, the number of voters increased to 115. The same number was also experienced during Pope Francis' election in 2013. This year out of 133 conclave-participants, 29 percent came from Europe. The rest: 14 percent Italy, 14 percent Africa and the Middle East, 16 percent Asia and the Pacific, 9 percent North America, and 18 percent Latin America.

Of the total number, 80 percent were Cardinals appointed by Pope Francis. The rest, 16 percent of Pope Benedict XVI's legacy and four percent of Pope John Paul II.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin (70 years old) from Italy is one of the strong candidates in the 2025 conclave. He is an 'insider', for serving as a cabinet secretary in Pope Francis' government. He is also known to be progressive, because he prioritizes diplomacy over religious dodomma in interacting with the world outside the church. Even though he is moderate, he opposes same-sex marriage.

That's why when the Catholic Republic of Ireland legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, Pietro Parolin called the situation a "excession for humanity".

Cardinal Luis Antonio Goklim Tagle from the Philippines is also touted as a strong candidate to replace Pope Francis. Cardinal Tagle, who is currently 67 years old, is known to have a moderate view, is even dubbed the Fransiscus of Asia. He is sensitive to social issues, such as immigrants, divorced widowss, single mothers, and LGBT. But Cardinal Tagle is a strong opponent of abortion and euthanasia.

Then there is the name Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (65 years) who comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Besungu became a strong candidate because the number of Catholics in Africa increased rapidly. The former Archbishop of Kinshasa was appointed Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018. He was moderate, but also an opponent persistent towards same-sex marriage.

In an interview at the BBC in 2020, Cardinal Besungu expressed his views on religious plurality.

"Let the Protestants become Protestants, and Muslims become Muslims. We will cooperate with them. But everyone must protect their own identity," said Cardinal Besungu.

This year's conclave composition may indeed be prepared to produce surprises from a geographic point of view. Because the new Pope may come from Africa, Asia, North America, or even Italy, who has not had a Catholic priest who becomes the Pope for 40 years. However, the 'surprises whale' to be selected remains not a surprise, because it will come from the camp of the late Pope Francis.