The death of Pope Francis opens a period of transition marked by a canonical singularity: the College of Cardinal Electors currently has 135 members, exceeding the limit of 120 set by the Apostolic Constitutions. A challenge for the Holy See, which will have to decide between a temporary adaptation of the rules or a lasting reform.
The Immutable Laws of Paul VI and John Paul II
Recall that Saint Paul VI, by the motu proprio Ingravescentem aetatem (1970), excluded from the conclave any cardinal over the age of 80. Saint John Paul II confirmed this rule in Universi Dominici gregis (1996), specifying that the number of electors could not exceed 120. Today, the Church finds itself facing a paradox: faithful to these principles, it must nevertheless contend with a surplus of fifteen potential votes.
Portrait of a Globalized College of Cardinals
Among the 135 electors, there are pastors from five continents, reflecting the universality dear to the last council. Four Poles are part of this assembly: Cardinals Konrad Krajewski and Stanisław Ryłko (members of the Roman Curia), as well as Kazimierz Nycz and Grzegorz Ryś (residential archbishops). France has six representatives, including Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, while Africa makes its voice heard through figures like Rwandan Cardinal Antoine Kambanda.
Here is the current alphabetical list of cardinal electors, i.e., those under 80 years of age:
- ADVINCULA Jose (Philippines)
- AGUIAR Américo Manuel Alves (Portugal)
- AGUIAR RETES, Carlos (Mexico)
- AMBONGO BESUNGU (Congo – Kinshasa)
- ARBORELIUS Anders OCD (Sweden)
- AVELINE Jean-Marc (France)
- BAGGIO Fabio (Italy)
- BARBARIN Philippe Xavier Christian Ignace Marie (France)
- BATTAGLIA Domenico (Italy)
- BESSI DOGBO Ignace (Ivory Coast)
- BETORI Giuseppe (Italy)
- BO Charles Maung, SDB (Myanmar)
- BOKALIC IGLIC Vicente CM (Argentina)
- BOZANIĆ Josip (Croatia)
- BRAZ DE AVIZ João (Brazil)
- BRENES SOLÓRZANO Leopoldo J. (Nicaragua)
- BRISLIN Stephen (South Africa)
- BURKE, Raymond Leo (United States)
- BUSTILLO François-Xavier OFM Conv. (France)
- BYCHOK Mykola (Ukraine – Australia)
- CABRERA HERRERA Luis Gerardo OFM (Ecuador)
- CALAÇA de MENDONÇA José Tolentino (Portugal – C)
- CAÑIZARES LLOVERA Antonio (Spain)
- CANTONI Oscar (Italy)
- CASTILLO MATTASOGLIO, Carlos (Peru)
- CHOMALÍ GARIB Fernando Natalio (Chile)
- CHOW SAU-YAN Stephen SI (China – Hong Kong)
- COBO CANO José (Spain)
- COLLINS, Thomas Christopher (Canada)
- COSTA Paulo Caesar (Brazil)
- COUTTS Joseph (Pakistan)
- CUPICH Blase (United States)
- CZERNY Michael (Canada – Roman Curia)
- DAVID Pablo Virgilio Siongco (Philippines)
- DE DONATIS Angelo (Italy)
- DE KESEL Joseph (Belgium)
- DEW John Atcherley (New Zealand)
- DiNARDO Daniel N. (United States)
- À CARMO da SILVA SDB Virgilio (East Timor)
- DOLAN Timothy Michael (United States)
- EIJK Willem Jacobus (Netherlands)
- ERDŐ Péter (Hungary)
- FARRELL, Kevin (United States – CdR)
- FERNÁNDEZ Víctor Manuel (Argentina – KR)
- FERNÁNDEZ ARTIME Ángel (Spain)
- FERRÃO Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário (India)
- FILONI Fernando (Italy – CdR)
- FRANCIS Sebastian (Malaysia)
- GAMBETTI Mauro (Italy)
- GARCÍA RODRÍGUEZ Juan de la Caridad (Cuba)
- GOH SENG CHYE William (Singapore)
- GOMES FURTADO Arlindo (Cape Verde)
- GRECH Mario (Malta – CdR)
- GREGORY Wilton (United States)
- GUGEROTTI Claudio (Italy – CdR)
- HARVEY James (United States – CdR)
- HOLLERICH Jean-Claude (Luxembourg)
- KAMBANDA, Antoine (Rwanda)
- KIKUCHI Tarcisio Isao SVD (Japan)
- KOCH Kurt (Switzerland – KR)
- KOOVAKAD George Jacob (India – CdR)
- KOVITHAVANIJ Francis Xavier Kriengsak (Thailand)
- KRAJEWSKI Konrad (Poland – CdR)
- KUTWA Jean-Pierre (Ivory Coast)
- LACROIX, Gérald C. (Canada)
- LANGLOIS Chibly (Haiti)
- LEO Frank (Canada)
- LOJUDICE Augusto P. (Italy)
- LÓPEZ ROMERO Cristóbal (Spain – Morocco)
- MACÁRIO do NASCIMENTO CLEMENTE Manuel José (Portugal)
- MAEDA Thomas Aquinas Manyo (Japan)
- MAFI. Soane Patita Paini (Tonga)
- MAKRICKAS Rolandas (Lithuania – CdR)
- MAMBERTI Dominique (France – CdR)
- MARENGO Giorgio IMC (Italy – Mongolia)
- MARTÍNEZ FLORES Adalberto (Paraguay)
- MARTO António dos Santos (Portugal)
- MARX Reinhard (Germany)
- MATHIEU, Dominique Joseph, OFM Conv. (Belgium – Iran)
- McELROY Robert Walter (United States)
- MONTÉNÉGRO Francesco (Italy)
- MULLA Stephen Ameyu Martin (South Sudan)
- MÜLLER Gerhard L. (Germany – CdR)
- NICHOLS Vincent G. (United Kingdom – England)
- NEMET Ladislav (Serbia)
- NJUE John (Kenya)
- NYCZ Kazimierz (Poland)
- NZAPALAINGA Dieudonné (Central African Republic)
- OKPALEKE Peter (Nigeria)
- OMELLA Juan José (Spain)
- OSORO Carlos (Spain)
- OUÉDRAOGO Philippe N. (Burkina Faso)
- PAROLIN Pietro (Italy – CdR)
- PATABENDIGE DON Albert Malcolm Ranjith (Sri Lanka)
- PETROCCHI Giuseppe (Italy)
- PIERRE Christophe Louis Yves Georges (France – CdR)
- PIZZABALLA Pierbattista OFM (Italy – Israel/Palestine)
- POLI Mario A. (Argentina)
- POOLA, Anthony (India)
- PREVOST Robert (United States – CdR)
- PULJIĆ Vinko (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- RADCLIFFE Timothy OP (Great Britain – England; KR)
- RAMAZZINI IMERI Álvaro Leonel (Guatemala)
- REINA Baldassare (Italy)
- REPOLE Roberto (Italy)
- RIBAT John (Papua New Guinea)
- ROBLES ORTEGA Francisco (Mexico)
- da ROCHA Sérgio (Brazil)
- ROCHE Arthur (United Kingdom – England)
- ROSSI Ángel Sixto SI (Argentina)
- RUEDA APARICIO Luis José (Colombia)
- RUGAMBWA Protase (Tanzania)
- RYŁKO Stanisław (Poland – KR)
- RYŚ Grzegorz (Poland)
- SAKO Louis Raphaël Ier (Iraq)
- SARAH Robert (Guinea – KR)
- SCHERER Odilo Pedro (Brazil)
- SEMERARO Marcello (Italy – CdR)
- SOURAPHIEL Berhaneyesus Demerew CM (Ethiopia)
- SPENGLER Jaime OFM (Brazil)
- STEINER Leonardo Ulrich OFM (Basilic)
- STURLA BERHOUET Daniel Fernando SDB (Uruguay)
- SUHARYO HARDJOATMODJO Ignatius (Indonesia)
- TAGLE Luis Antonio (Philippines – CdR)
- TEMPESTA Orani João O.Cist. (Brazil)
- THOTTUNKAL Baselios Cleemis (India)
- TOBIN Joseph (United States)
- TSARAHAZANA Desiré (Madagascar)
- TSCHERRIG Emil Paul (Switzerland – KG)
- TURKSON Peter Kodwo Appiah (Ghana – KR)
- VESCO Jean-Paul OP (France – Algeria)
- WOELKI Rainer Maria (Germany)
- YOU HEUNG SIK Lazzaro (South Korea – KR)
- ZENARI Mario (Italy – CdR)
- ZUPPI Matteo (Italy)
While the practical modalities remain to be clarified, the process remains anchored in tradition. The cardinals, gathered in conclave, will have to find the man capable of bearing the "burden of Peter" after a pontificate marked by reform. The choice of the voting location—the Sistine Chapel or another suitable space—as well as the management of absences for health reasons will be points of attention.
The Hour of Discernment
In the coming days, the cardinals will begin general congregations to prepare the election. These meetings, often unknown to the general public, allow for the discussion of pastoral challenges and the perception of the theological sensibilities present. A crucial time when the Holy Spirit is invited to guide hearts, far from human calculations.
Let us pray for these pastors entrusted with such a great mystery: may they know how to discern, in the silence of faith, the one whom Christ desires to lead His Church.
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Mt 16:18).