The expert assessed the chances of candidates for the papal throne

Pietro Parolin, a well-known man of the Roman curia, an experienced diplomat, an intelligent and cunning politician, who has been successfully maneuvering between various players, including in the international arena, for several years now, is increasingly being mentioned as a contender for the papal throne, a researcher at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies of the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia on April 23. Ekaterina Shebalina.

"The problem with Parolin may be that he is an excellent administrator, an excellent manager, but the question is how much he is associated with the pope, with the divinity inherent in the figure of the pope," the expert said.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is another candidate. He is a representative of the liberal wing and a follower of Pope Francis in his ideas. The Pontiff directed him to solve the most difficult cases. He managed to solve some of them, or at least contribute to their solution. However, the question with him is how likely it is that a liberal will also become pope again, Shebalina noted.

"It is also worth noting Cardinal Peter Erde, who, on the one hand, is a conservative, but does not belong to the ultraconservatives and theoretically could reflect the interests of both the right and the left wing in the Roman Curia. The names of African Cardinal Besungu and Philippine Cardinal Tagle are often mentioned, but I would not place high stakes on them," the researcher believes.

Any of the 135 cardinal electors can become Pope. In reality, the rules do not regulate that it should be only one of these 135 people. They can also be cardinals who do not have the status of an elector, that is, another 117 people. If you dig deeper into the rules of the Catholic Church, then absolutely any man and Catholic can become pope, which is indicated by the conclave, the expert concluded.

The Vatican will elect a new pope. What you need to know

On April 21, The New York Times named seven main candidates for the post of the next pope. It is noted that, according to experts, there is currently no single favorite in the struggle for the status of pontiff.

Pope Francis died on the morning of April 21 at the age of 89 at his residence in the Vatican's Santa Marta House. The pontiff struggled with bilateral pneumonia for a long time, and died of a cerebral stroke. The funeral of the pontiff will take place on April 26.