Top 12 Papabile on the Eve of the 2025 Conclave

The election of a new pope is one of the most consequential events in global Christian life, and speculation about who might follow Pope Francis has intensified on the eve of tomorrow’s conclave.

While no one can predict the outcome of a conclave with certainty—remember the famed Vatican adage “He who enters the conclave as pope leaves as a cardinal”—it is possible to evaluate which cardinals have emerged as strong contenders.

Let’s run through a dozen cardinals who are widely discussed in ecclesiastical circles as papabile, and sort them into three tiers based on “conventional wisdom.”

Sistine Chapel Chimney Erected

In preparation for the beginning of the conclave to elect the 267th pope, firefighters at the Vatican have attached to the roof of the Sistine Chapel the chimney pipe that the world will watch anxiously beginning next week.

The smoke that eminates from the chimney will signal the end of each balloting session by the College of Cardinals, when the ballots themselves are thrown into the fireplace within the chapel. Black smoke rising from the chimney indicates that the vote did not result in an election; but when white smoke puffs out, the world will know that a new Pope has been elected.

According to Reuters, the chimney is clearly visible from the nearby St Peter's Square, where thousands are expected to gather during the conclave to see how the secret balloting is progressing.

Sede Vacante Stamps Issued

The Vatican City's Postal and Philately Service has issued a series of stamps to mark this period of Sede Vacante.

The stamps are printed with the phrase "Sede Vacante MMXXV." According to the Vatican State website, the stamps "depict the Allegory of the Apostolic See supported by angels under which figure the crossed keys." The new stamps are available in denominations of €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20 and are available for purchase at the Post Office kiosk in St. Peter’s Square and at all public Vatican City Post offices.

Conclave Will Begin on May 7

The Vatican has announced that the 2025 Conclave to elect the next Bishop of Rome is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Approximately 135 members of the College of Cardinals will decide who is to become the 267th Pope of the Universal Church.

Pope Francis Laid to Rest

An estimated 250,000 people attended the Funeral Mass of the Late Roman Pontiff Francis on Saturday. Later that day, the Pope's body was transported through Rome to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he was interred.

Watch Live: Funeral Mass of Pope Francis

The Funeral Mass for Pope Francis will begin at 10:00 a.m. CEST in St. Peter's Square. It will be livestreamed on YouTube by Vatican News:

The booklet for the Mass can be found here: https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2025/20250426-libretto-esequie-sepoltura.pdf