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10 Cardinals Who Might Succeed Pope Francis

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Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a period known as sede vacante, which is Latin for “the seat being vacant”.

This triggers the centuries-old process of selecting a new pope.

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With no clear frontrunner, attention has turned to a number of high-ranking cardinals considered potential successors to the 266th pontiff, who led the Church from 2013 until his death at age 88.

The selection of a new pope will be decided during a conclave, a secretive gathering of eligible cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.

The process is guided by long-established traditions and rituals, though the outcome is far from predictable.

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According to reports by The Telegraph and CNBC, several cardinals have emerged as possible papabili, a term used to describe those considered likely to be elected pope.

The list includes figures from various regions and theological leanings, some closely aligned with Pope Francis’ progressive vision and others representing a more conservative approach.

Here are 10 cardinals being widely mentioned in Western media as likely contenders:

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Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines)

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

Tagle holds the title of Cardinal-Bishop of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle (pro hac vice). He also serves as President of the Catholic Biblical Federation, Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, and is actively involved in several Roman Curia departments.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)

The Holy See’s secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Parolin has been the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013 and joined the Council of Cardinals in 2014, the same year he was elevated to cardinal.

Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary)

The Hungarian cardinal, Peter Erdo.

Erdő has been Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate of Hungary since 2003

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (USA)

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke

Burke is a prominent conservative figure in the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of St. Louis and Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest court, from 2008 to 2014.

He was also Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta between 2014 and 2023.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy)

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, Italy, in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 5, 2019. Photo: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Zuppi has been the Archbishop of Bologna since 2015 and previously served as an auxiliary bishop in Rome.

Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk (Netherlands)

Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk

Eijk, a former medical doctor and moral theologian, has been Archbishop of Utrecht since 2007 and became a cardinal in 2012.

Cardinal Mario Grech (Malta)

Cardinal Mario Grech

Then-Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, Malta, applauds at the start of the first session of the synod for the Amazon at the Vatican Oct. 7, 2019. Pope Francis appointed him as secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops in 2020. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring
Grech has served as Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops since 2020, playing a pivotal role in the global synodal process.

Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana)

Cardinal Peter Turkson

Turkson currently heads the Pontifical Academies of Sciences. He previously led the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and was the first prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development

Cardinal Angelo Scola (Italy)

Archbishop of Milan Angelo Scola.

Scola is a seasoned theologian and philosopher who served as Archbishop of Milan from 2011 to 2017 and Patriarch of Venice before that.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM is an Italian Catholic prelate who has served as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since November 6, 2020.

As 1.3 billion Catholics around the world mourn the death of Pope Francis, they now await news of who will take up the mantle of spiritual leadership

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10 Killed In Nepal Protest Over Social Media Ban

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At least 10 protesters were killed Monday after Nepal police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannon to disperse demonstrators in Kathmandu demanding the government lift its ban on social media and tackle corruption.

Several social media sites — including Facebook, YouTube, and X — have been inaccessible in Nepal since Friday after the government blocked 26 unregistered platforms, leaving users angry and confused.

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Until now, 10 protesters have died and 87 are injured,” Shekhar Khanal, spokesman for the Kathmandu valley police, told AFP.

“The crowds are still in the streets”.

Many of the injured were being treated at the nearby Civil Hospital, according to its information officer Ranjana Nepal.

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READ ALSO:Generation Z Protests In Nepal Over Social Media Ban, Corruption

“I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital,” she told AFP.

“Tear gas entered the hospital area as well, making it difficult for doctors to work”.

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Waving national flags, young demonstrators in the capital Kathmandu started the protest with the national anthem before unleashing chants against the social media prohibitions and corruption.

The crowd swelled as it crossed into a restricted area close to the parliament and pushed through barbed wire.

Violence erupted in the streets as police baton-charged protesters, some of whom climbed over the wall into the parliament premises.

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The district administration imposed a curfew in several key areas of the city, including the parliament, the president’s residence, and Singha Durbar, which houses the prime minister’s office.

Similar protests were organised in other districts across the country.

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Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news, and business.

“We were triggered by the social media ban, but that is not the only reason we are gathered here,” said student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24.

– ‘We want to see change’ –

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“We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal.”

Another student, Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she was protesting against the “authoritarian attitude” of the government.

READ ALSO:8 Most Dangerous Airports In The World

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“We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation,” she told AFP.

Since the ban, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations have gone viral on TikTok, which is still operating.

“There have been movements abroad against corruption, and they (the government) are afraid that might happen here as well,” said protester Bhumika Bharati.

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The cabinet decided last month to give the affected companies seven days to register in Nepal, establish a point of contact, and designate a resident grievance handling officer and compliance officer.

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The decision came after a Supreme Court order in September last year.

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In a statement on Sunday, the government said it respected freedom of thought and expression and was committed to “creating an environment for their protection and unfettered use”.

Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past.

The government blocked access to the Telegram messaging app in July, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering.

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It lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok in August last year after the platform agreed to comply with Nepali regulations.

AFP

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Popular Influencer Lola Shot

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Popular social media influencer Lola Doll is in critical condition after being shot multiple times outside her home in Georgetown on Saturday night.

This was disclosed in a Sunday statement released on social media by the Guyana Police Force.

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The 33-year-old, whose real name is Lolita Callender, was attacked at about 11:35 p.m. local time in front of her residence at Texas Square, East Ruimveldt.

She is presently receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she remains in critical condition, having sustained gunshot wounds to her neck, face, hands, and right leg,” the statement partly read.

READ ALSO:Man Dies Of Gunshot Inside Akwa Ibom Church, Police Begin Probe

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The police operatives disclosed that Callender was seated in her car when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire.

Preliminary information indicates that the victim was seated in her motor car when she was shot by a male on a motorcycle,” the GPF added.

Leadership tussle claims two as Edo begins probe
Authorities said efforts are underway to track down the suspect.

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Police ranks are actively pursuing the suspect, and CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed as part of the investigation,” the release noted.

The force appealed to the public for assistance, saying,”The Guyana Police Force is urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to come forward.

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“Persons can also share information anonymously by calling 911 or the nearest police station.

“Investigations remain ongoing,” the police stated.

 

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French PM Ousted In Parliament Confidence Vote

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France’s parliament on Monday ousted the government of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou after just nine months in office, leaving President Emmanuel Macron scrambling to find a successor and plunging the country into a new political crisis.

Bayrou, who has been in the job for just nine months, had blindsided even his allies by calling a confidence vote to end a lengthy standoff over his austerity budget, which foresees almost 44 billion euros ($52 billion) of cost savings to reduce France’s debt pile.

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Bayrou, the first premier in the history of modern France to be ousted in a confidence vote rather than a no-confidence vote, will submit his resignation on Tuesday morning, according to a person close to him who asked not to be named.

In the vote in the National Assembly, 364 deputies voted that they had no confidence in the government, while just 194 gave it their confidence. “In line with Article 50 of the constitution, the prime minister must submit the resignation of his government,” said Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet.

READ ALSO:French Media Giant Acquires MultiChoice In $3bn Deal, Gains Full Control Of DStv, GOtv

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Bayrou is the sixth prime minister under Macron since his 2017 election, but the fifth since 2022. Bayrou’s ousting leaves the French head of state with a new domestic headache at a time when he is leading diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine war.

But defending his decision to call the high-risk confidence vote, Bayrou told the National Assembly, “The biggest risk was not to take one, to let things continue without anything changing… and have business as usual.”

Describing the debt pile as “life-threatening” for France, Bayrou said his government had put forward a plan so that the country could “in a few years’ time escape the inexorable tide of debt that is submerging it.”

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You have the power to overthrow the government,” but not “to erase reality,” Bayrou told the MPs in a doomed final bid to save his government before the vote.

READ ALSO:Fuel Price Drop Imminent As Nigerian Govt Renews Naira-for-crude Deal

Unpopular president

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Macron now faces one of the most critical decisions of his presidency—appoint a seventh prime minister to try to thrash out a compromise, or call snap elections in a bid to have a more accommodating parliament.

There is no guarantee an election would result in any improvement in the fortunes of Macron’s centre-right bloc in parliament.

And although the Socialist Party (PS) has expressed readiness to lead a new government, it is far from clear whether such an administration could survive.

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Heavyweight right-wing cabinet ministers, such as Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, are trusted by Macron but risk being voted out by the left.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: French Prime Minister Removed In No-confidence Vote

According to a poll by Odoxa-Backbone for Le Figaro newspaper, 64 per cent of the French want Macron to resign rather than name a new prime minister, a move he has ruled out.

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He is forbidden from standing for a third term in 2027.

Around 77 per cent of people do not approve of his work, Macron’s worst-ever such rating, according to an Ifop poll for the Ouest-France daily.

Le Pen ruling

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Alongside political upheaval, France is also facing social tensions.

A left-wing collective named “Block Everything” is calling for a day of action on Wednesday, and trade unions have urged workers to strike on September 18.

The 2027 presidential election, meanwhile, remains wide open, with analysts predicting the French far right will have its best-ever chance of winning.

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READ ALSO:French Anthony Ammirati’s Manhood Prevents Him From Winning Medal At Paris Olympics

Three-time presidential candidate for the National Rally (RN), Marine Le Pen suffered a blow in March when a French court convicted her and other party officials over an EU parliament fake jobs scam.

Le Pen was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, two of which were suspended, and a fine of 100,000 euros ($117,000).

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The ruling also banned her from standing for office for five years, which would scupper her ambition of taking part in the 2027 vote unless overturned on appeal.

But a Paris court said Monday her appeal would be heard from January 13 to February 12, 2026, well before the election—potentially resurrecting her presidential hopes.

Cheered by her MPs, Le Pen urged Macron to call snap legislative elections, saying holding the polls is “not an option but an obligation” and describing Bayrou’s administration as a “phantom government.”

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