Meet Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle, favorites to succeed Pope Francis

Two favorites to succeed Pope Francis are Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle

Updated on: May 8, 2025, 22:43:15 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Two favorites to succeed Pope Francis are Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle. White smoke was seen above the Sistine Chapel, indicating that cardinals have elected a new pope to lead the church’s 1.4 billion faithful. While the identity of the new pontiff has not been revealed yet, social media users discussed the favorite cardinals to take over the top job at the Vatican.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagl, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and other Cardinals (REUTERS)

Who are Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle?

Born in January 1955 in Italy, Parolin has served as the Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, effectively the second-in-command to Pope Francis, often described as the "deputy pope." The 70-year-old holds degrees in theology and canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a diploma from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, the Vatican’s diplomatic school.

He has served in Vatican missions in Nigeria, Mexico, and Venezuela, where he defended the Church against Hugo Chávez’s policies.

Luis Antonio Tagle was born in June 1957 in Manila, Philippines. He is the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization since 2019, overseeing the Church’s missionary work, and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University.

Tagle studied philosophy at Ateneo de Manila University and theology at Loyola School of Theology, with a doctorate in theology from the Catholic University of America.

Ordained in 1982, he served as Bishop of Imus (2001–2011) and Archbishop of Manila (2011–2020). Made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, he participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Francis.

If elected, Tagle would be the first Asian pope in the modern era.

The name of the new pope will be announced by a top cardinal, when he utters the words “Habemus Papam!” — Latin for “We have a pope!” — from the loggia of the basilica. The cardinal will then read the winner's birth name in Latin and reveal the name he has chosen to be called.

The new pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing from the same loggia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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