Rising Hopes for the First Asian Pope... Global Attention on the 'Conclave' [AK Radio]

Conclave to Begin on May 7
Vote May Take Longer Than Usual

With the passing of Pope Francis, the process to elect a new pope, known as the conclave, is scheduled to begin on May 7. This conclave is drawing even greater attention, as it raises the possibility of the first-ever Asian pope in history.

The conclave is a secret election in which 135 cardinals under the age of 80 with voting rights gather at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican to elect the next pope. The term "conclave" itself means "locked in from the outside," and this method has been in place since 1274. In the early Middle Ages, not only cardinals but also lower-ranking priests and laypeople had the right to vote. However, due to interference by kings, corruption, and elections influenced by money, the process was changed to a secret ballot.

In order to prevent delays or irregularities in the election, the current method was devised, which requires all cardinal electors to be locked in one place and to continue voting until a new pope is chosen. The conclave is mandated to convene 15 to 20 days after the pope's passing. Once the conclave begins on May 7, the cardinals will continue voting until a candidate receives support from more than two-thirds of the total members and is elected as the next pope.

While the conclave usually results in the election of a new pope within three days, this time it is expected to take longer. This is because the composition of the College of Cardinals has become more complex than before. In the past, more than 50% of cardinals were from Europe, but now that figure has dropped to the 30% range. The inclusion of cardinals from regions with small Catholic communities, such as Iran, Algeria, and Mongolia, has meant that cardinals from Asia, Latin America, and Africa now make up more than 50% of the total. As a result, linguistic and cultural gaps among the cardinals have widened, and many do not know each other personally, making communication more difficult and likely prolonging the voting process compared to the past.

The late Pope Francis at the age of 88 on the 21st of last month (local time). Yonhap News

Of the 266 popes in history, 210 have been Italian, and most have been from Europe. However, in recent years, the Catholic Church has seen significant growth in the number of believers not only in Europe but also in Latin America and Asia, leading to greater awareness of the need for continental balance. Pope Francis was the first pope from the Americas. Historically, there have been three popes from Africa and one from the Middle East, but there has never been a pope from Asia or Oceania. This has heightened expectations that an Asian pope could be elected this time.

Particularly, since Pope Francis devoted significant efforts to improving relations with China during his papacy, there is speculation that the next pope could come from Asia. Among Asian candidates, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines is considered the frontrunner. The Philippines has a Catholic population of over 90 million, accounting for more than 80% of its total population, while South Korea has about 6 million Catholics, highlighting a significant difference in the number of believers.

However, some believe that Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik of South Korea could also be a "hidden card," given several factors: Pope Francis expressed hope to visit North Korea during his visit to South Korea; the Catholic World Youth Day is scheduled to be held in South Korea in 2027; and the Vatican is placing particular emphasis on missionary work in East Asia, especially in China and South Korea.

Cardinals attending the memorial mass for Pope Francis on the 29th of last month (local time). Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The next pope will face an even greater responsibility to act as a peacemaker in an unstable global environment. Just as Pope Francis worked for ceasefires in the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict during his lifetime, the issue of brokering a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, which is ongoing in Europe, is expected to become a core task for the next pope.

Considering that there are more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, the next pope's message will carry significant influence. Since each cardinal has different political views and perspectives on social issues, this conclave is expected to place importance not only on the candidates' positions on war, but also on new social issues such as poverty, LGBTQ rights, and refugees as key criteria for selection.

The Vatican is not only the head of the Catholic Church but also wields considerable influence globally, directly affecting Catholic-related decisions in many countries, including South Korea. Therefore, depending on who becomes the next pope and what direction he chooses to take, meaningful changes are expected for both the international community and South Korea.