Five Cardinals in the running to succeed Pope Francis

At least five Cardinals are in the running to be the next Pope or the leader of more than one billion Catholics around the world, according to one of the Cardinal electors participating in the Conclave.

According to the Connie Sison who is reporting from Vatican City in "Balitanghali," Cardinal Gregorio Chavez of El Salvador gave very few clues on who could be the pope to succeed the beloved Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday last April 21 of stroke and irreversible heart failure.

"Matipid siyempre ang kanilang mga sagot. Pero may isang kardinal mula sa El Salvador, si Cardinal Gregorio Chavez. At sabi niya, talagang may limang matutunog na pangalan na pag-uusapan sa kanilang bawat pagpupulong. Pero, siyempre, tumanggi siya magbigay ng mga detalye, kung saan galing 'yung mga Cardinals na ito," Sison reported.

(They are keeping it under wraps by Cardinal Chavez said there are five prominent names in the discussion during General Congregation. He did not give further details though on the home country of these five.)

"Siyempre, ayaw nila nga i-preempt 'yung magiging butuhan. At sinasabi niya, very confident siya na talagang magkakaroon na raw tayo ng panibagong Santo Papa pagsapit siyempre ng linggong ito," she added.

(They do not want to preempt the vote. But he is very confident that we will have a new Pope this week.)

The 133 Cardinals eligible to vote for the next Pope, who are expected to attend the General Congregation today, May 6, 2025 including three Filipinos, namely: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Jose Advincula and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David.

The May 6 General Congregation is also expected to be the last one to be held before the Cardinal Electors cast their votes on who should be the next Pope.

Once the Pope is elected,white smoke will billow out of chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

"Ito na nga ang talagang sinasabing pinakahuli [na General Congregation]. Although, may mga nagsasabi na kung mag-request ang mga cardinal ng isa pang kongregasyon para sa kanilang pagpupulong, flexible naman dito [ang schedule]. So baka magkaroon pa ng 13th congregation sa bandang hapon," Sison said.

(This should be the last although if there will be a request for one more before votes are cast, that could also happen.)

During the said General Congregation, Sison reported that each Cardinal would have to register that he wants to speak two hours ahead, and that each Cardinal has five minutes to speak about their stand on certain issues such as ethnicity and migration. — Llanesca Panti/BAP, GMA Integrated News