The cardinals eligible to elect the next pope in the 2025 conclave were 135 in number, all under the age of 80 at the time of Pope Francis's death. Among these, 133 participated in the conclave held in the Sistine Chapel starting May 7, 2025

. While any baptized male Catholic can technically be elected pope, since 1378 the pope has always been chosen from among the cardinals. The electors vote by secret ballot and a two-thirds supermajority (89 votes) is required to elect the new pope

. Several cardinals were considered leading contenders ("papabili") before the conclave:

• Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (USA): Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, ultimately elected pope Leo XIV

• Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy): Former Vatican Secretary of State, known as a skilled diplomat and a moderate, considered a front-runner

• Cardinal Marc Ouellet (Canada): Headed the Vatican's bishops' office for over a decade, known for his conservative views but pastoral approach

• Cardinal Robert Sarah (Guinea): Favored by conservatives, known for defending traditional stances such as clerical celibacy

• Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines): A prominent figure from the Global South, often mentioned among papabile

• Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) and Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary) were also among the notable candidates

The conclave process is secretive and unpredictable, with cardinals praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The diverse composition of the College of Cardinals, including many appointed by Pope Francis from around the world, makes the election outcome uncertain

. In summary, the cardinal electors for the 2025 conclave were a group of 135 under-80 cardinals, with several leading candidates such as Prevost, Parolin, Ouellet, Sarah, Tagle, Turkson, and Erdő considered likely contenders. The conclave elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025