The Vatican's upcoming conclave on May 7 will be unprecedented, with 133 cardinals from 71 different countries expected to discuss the next pope's selection. This transformation reflects the late Pope Francis's efforts to diversify the College of Cardinals and the Catholic Church's global representation. Consequently, predictions about outcomes have become increasingly complex due to the cultural heterogeneity within the College, as stated by church historian Jorg Ernesti. Betting on candidates is already occurring, but every cardinal remains eligible, complicating the scene further.
Speculation is rife. Even on the day of Francis's death, many media outlets posed the question: 'Who will be next? Various names quickly made the rounds.'
It is generally more difficult to predict the outcome of the election today since the College of Cardinals is nationally and culturally more heterogeneous,' Augsburg church historian Jorg Ernesti told DW.
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