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Papal front-runners: The men who could be pope

NCR staff reporter Brian Fraga reviewed eight media outlets and identified the papabile candidates reported by those publications. (NCR graphic/Stephanie Yeagle)

There is no clear favorite heading into the conclave. And because there are no political parties in the Catholic Church and no public nominating process, list of so-called papabile (an Italian term for "pope-able," or possible popes) emerge when certain potential candidates meet certain qualifications: leadership experience, prominent writings and whispers among the cardinals themselves as to who they are looking at as possible contenders. Find more of our coverage of the conclave here.

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