Papal front-runners: The men who could be pope

The chimney on the Sistine Chapel is up, and voting to elect the next pope will begin on Wednesday afternoon, May 7. Here is the National Catholic Reporter's final roundup of the 12 leading front-runners.

He's a possible contender to succeed Pope Francis, but says he does not want the job.

Marseille's Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline is not widely considered a top-tier contender as cardinals approach the May 7 conclave to elect a new pope. But the French cardinal is still worth taking seriously.

At age 60, Franciscan Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa bears an undeniably impressive resume. And yet, his relatively youthful age is likely what will rule him out as a potential pope in this conclave.

As secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech oversaw the Vatican meetings that advanced Francis' vision of synodality — a church where everyone participates in decisions and the mission.

Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, archbishop of Quebec City, emerged as a major powerbroker during the Pope Francis era. Yet sexual misconduct allegations — even though effectively cleared — may cast a shadow.

It is typically absurd to think of an American as pope. But in this conclave, a Chicago-born Augustinian friar who has spent much of his life outside of the United States is worthy of serious consideration.

The likely top candidate for the conservative wing of the College of Cardinals is Esztergom–Budapest Cardinal Peter Erdo, known for embracing the anti-migrant views of Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban.

A leading voice among his confreres in Africa, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo is known for his environmental advocacy, and made news for pushback on blessing homosexual couples.

Will the conclave write papal poetry and pick a 59-year-old theologian and fisherman's son for the seat of St. Peter? Or will Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça have to wait until next time?

Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin served as Pope Francis' top aide and by all accounts was a loyal deputy. But in recent years, Parolin's stock has been on the rise among more traditional-leaning prelates.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin's ecclesial resume was built predominantly outside of the U.S., which might ease concerns about an Americentric papacy. And cardinal electors might be attracted to his story of Vatican exile.

They call him the "Asian Francis" because his personal simplicity and emphasis on the poor and marginalized mirror Pope Francis' life. Now, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is again a contender to be pope.

As the world's Catholic cardinals gather for what is expected to be the largest conclave in history, they face a stark choice: to continue along Pope Francis' path of reform, or to initiate a course correction.