Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco is Archbishop of Genoa. A former professor of philosophy, he has studied contemporary atheism, and he is also a two-time president of the Italian bishops conference.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet is Canadian-born and the former Archbishop of Quebec. He is the head of the Congregation of Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops and arranges their audiences with the pope.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi is head of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Colleagues describe him as both intellectually brilliant and a gifted communicator both within and outside the church.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri was born to Italian parents but raised in Buenos Aires, which would make him the first pope from South America. He has been a longtime Vatican diplomat as well.
Cardinal Angelo Scola, another Italian, is Archbishop of Milan. He has held two jobs that traditionally breed popes: his current post in Milan and as the Patriarch of Venice. Scola is a top scholar on Islam and Catholic-Muslim dialogue.
Cardinal Francis Arinze is Nigerian and is a favorite to succeed Benedict. Arinze, who would be the first African pope, has also worked on relations between Catholics and Muslims. He is known as theologically conservative.
Could Cardinal Timothy Dolan be the first American pope? Vatican insiders have been whispering about 'the American moment' in the Holy See, and the Archbishop of New York is a popular figure.
Will one of these seven cardinals be the next pope?
2/11/2013With the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the world is focused on which cardinal will become the next spiritual leader of the world’s billion-plus Roman Catholics. Who is your money on? Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York? The Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, who would become the first African pope? The Argentinian-raised Cardinal Leonardo Sandri? Or will you take the safe route and bet on another Italian, such as Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, to lead the Holy See? Click through the gallery above to see seven of the most hotly tipped candidates to be chosen to lead Team Vatican. [Source]
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Who do you want to be the next pope?
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