The world now turns its eyes to Pope Francis’ successors. Pope Francis is gone and the Church must decide who will carry his fire, and who might take it further.

As the conclave approaches in 2025, many wonder, who will be the next Pope and will he carry Francis’ legacy, or rewrite it?

Among Pope Francis’ successors, the choice will shape not just leadership, but the future of the global Church.

His death didn’t just leave a leadership gap, it left a legacy that is both loved and contested. His successor won’t just wear white robes. He’ll decide whether Francis was a chapter or a turning point.

The cardinals who gather in conclave are not all aligned. Some may continue Francis’s work with quiet conviction. Others may push the Church into new territory—either progressive or reactionary. The outcome could reshape global Catholicism for generations.

The Continuers: Global South, Local Mercy

Among Pope Francis’ successors, those from the Global South may be the most poised to define the Church’s next moral era.

Some candidates are seen as spiritual heirs to Francis—men who echo his values of mercy, human dignity, and justice.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines) is a gentle force of pastoral care. With deep roots in Asian Catholicism and global outreach, he reflects Francis’s heart, if not his boldness.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo (Congo) is the boldest choice. He has spoken out against corruption, climate injustice, and violence in Central Africa. He could turn the Church’s moral voice into a global one.

Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) connects the dots between systems: poverty, climate collapse, and exploitation. Under him, the Church might name what it’s long avoided—who profits from injustice.

Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (France) is a bridge-builder. His interfaith work and quiet empathy would preserve Francis’s legacy, especially in a Europe more divided by religion than ever.

From Local to Global Conscience

These are not just cardinals. They are symbols of what the Church could become.

Will it stay diplomatic—or get louder? Will it stand with the vulnerable—or return to power politics?

The successors to Pope Francis won’t just choose a direction. They’ll choose who gets to matter.

The decision won’t just echo through the Vatican—it will ripple across every corner of the Church.

Keep Following the Storyline:

• Pope Francis’ Death and Legacy — Part 3: Gospel or Throne?

• Pope Francis’ Death and Legacy — Part 1: Who Inherits His Conscience?