The upcoming conclave to elect a new pope will see 133 cardinals participating, following the withdrawal of two due to health reasons. This conclave is notable for its geographical diversity, with cardinals representing 71 countries, making it the most globally representative gathering in history for such an event.
The cardinals come from various backgrounds and regions, each bringing different priorities based on their experiences and the challenges facing their respective dioceses. For instance, cardinals from war-torn regions or those overseeing large urban archdioceses may focus on distinct issues compared to those from smaller or less conflict-affected areas.
The electors are distributed as follows: Europe has the largest representation with 52 cardinals, followed by North America with 16 (including 10 from the United States), Asia with 23, Africa with 17, South America with 17, and Oceania with 4. This diverse representation emphasizes the need for a leader who can address the concerns of the global Catholic community, which numbers around 1.4 billion.
During meetings leading up to the conclave, some cardinals emphasized the importance of considering all regions and the global nature of the Church. Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio noted the significance of looking at all five continents, while Cardinal William Goh highlighted the focus on electing the “best person” without bias towards nationality or region. A two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be elected, which translates to 89 votes if the number of electors remains at 133.
