Last Updated:February 24, 2025, 13:27 IST
Of the 252 cardinals, 138 are currently under the age of 80, making them eligible to participate in the conclave. India currently has six cardinals, with one aged 80, one 79 and the rest below 80
(Right) Pope Francis remains in critical condition. (Clockwise from top left) Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios, Cardinal Anthony Poola, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad. (AP/College Of Cardinals Report/Meta/Abaca Press/Alamy)
At least four Indian cardinals will vote in the upcoming papal conclave to pick the next Pope.
Current Pope Francis, 88, is undergoing treatment at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he was admitted on February 14 after struggling with breathing difficulties for several days. The Vatican on Monday said the Pope’s overall clinical condition is improving slightly, and that he has no fever and is stable.
Meanwhile, according to an old report from the the New York Post, Pope Francis had signed a letter of resignation in 2013 to be used in case he was forced from his duties as a result of bad health. “I have already signed my resignation. Tarcisio Bertone was Secretary of State. I signed it and I told him: ‘In case of impediment for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation,’” the Pope had told them during a 2022 interview.
Of the 252 cardinals, 138 are currently under the age of 80, making them eligible to participate in the conclave, according to the College of Cardinals Report website.
India currently has six cardinals, with one aged 80, one 79 and the rest below 80.
THE FOUR ELIGIBLE CARDINALS
1. CARDINAL FILIPE NERI FERRÃO, 72
He is the archbishop of Goa and Daman and seventh patriarch of the East Indies who has focused on family ministry, interreligious dialogue and social justice, particularly migrants and climate change. He was ordained to priesthood on October 28, 1979, the Episcopate on April 10, 1994 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals on August 27, 2022.
2. CARDINAL CLEEMIS BASELIOS, 64
He currently serves as the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum. He was ordained to priesthood on June 11, 1986, the Episcopate on August 15, 2001 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals on November 24, 2012.
3. CARDINAL ANTHONY POOLA, 63
He is an Indian prelate dedicated to helping children out of poverty and whose elevation to the College of Cardinals has been viewed as a step towards addressing the inequalities of the caste system. He is India’s first Dalit Cardinal.
4. CARDINAL GEORGE JACOB KOOVAKAD, 51
He is a trained Vatican diplomat and Syro Malabar archbishop from Kerala, who had organised Pope Francis’ international trips from 2021 until his appointment as prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in January 2025.
He was ordained to priesthood on July 24, 2004, the Episcopate on November 24, 2024 and elevated to the College of Cardinals on December 7, 2024.
A matter of great joy and pride for India!Delighted at His Eminence George Jacob Koovakad being created a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church by His Holiness Pope Francis.
His Eminence George Cardinal Koovakad has devoted his life in service of humanity as an ardent… pic.twitter.com/CCq749PiZv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2024
THE OTHER 2 INDIAN CARDINALS
1. CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS, 80
The Archbishop of Bombay was ordained as priest on December 20, 1970. He obtained a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a diploma in jurisprudence from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained to the Episcopate on September 16, 1997 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals on November 24, 2007.
2. CARDINAL GEORGE ALENCHERRY, 79
He is the Major Archbishop Emeritus of Ernakulam-Angamalhy for Syro-Malabars, India. He was ordained as priest on December 18, 1972 and to the Episcopate on February 2, 1997. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals on February 18, 2012. However, he will lose his right to vote after April 19, 2025, when he turns 80.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?
During the 2013 Papal election, which led to Pope Francis’s appointment, Indian cardinals Telesphore Toppo (Archbishop of Patna),Oswald Gracias (Archbishop of Mumbai), Mar George Alenchery and Mar Baselios Cleemis, heads of the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches and Ivan Dias (Roman Curia), former Archbishop of Mumbai, had cast their votes.
THE PROCESS: BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE
- Once a Pope dies or resigns, the cardinals convene at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, where they take an oath of secrecy, are isolated from the outside world and discuss the merits of likely candidates. While open campaigning is not allowed, the process is considered “political”.
- Voting through a series of secret ballots, each cardinal writes a name of choice on a piece of paper.
- A two-thirds majority is required to win.
- Four rounds are held each day until a majority is secured.
- After each session, the ballot papers are burnt, giving off smoke that can be seen by onlookers.
- If the smoke is black, the cardinals have failed to reach a decision. White smoke signifies that a new pope has been chosen.
With Agency Inputs