The SVR assessed the chances of the guardian of traditional values becoming the new pope

Among the candidates under consideration for the post of head of the Vatican after the death of Pope Francis, there are both keepers of traditional values and reformists, therefore, a representative of any party can become the new pontiff. This was announced on April 27 by Sergey Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

The head of the special service noted that "the probability of both is about the same."

"Among the candidates of both one part of the landscape and the other, there are representatives of the reformist wing of the Catholic Church, but there are also representatives of the conservative, traditional," TASS quoted him as saying.

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

On April 26, a farewell mass for Pope Francis was held in the Vatican. The ceremony was attended by a total of 50 heads of state, including US President Donald Trump. Russia was represented at the ceremony by Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova.

Pope Francis died on the morning of April 21 at the age of 89. According to Professor Andrea Archangeli, director of the Vatican's Office of Health and Hygiene, death occurred as a result of a cerebral stroke. On the occasion of his death, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolences to the Camerlengo of the Roman Catholic Church to Farrell.

Any of the 135 cardinal electors can become the new pope. Ekaterina Shebalina, a researcher at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Izvestia on April 23 that Pietro Parolin, an experienced diplomat and a smart and cunning politician who has been successfully maneuvering between various players, including in the international arena, is now increasingly being heard as a candidate for the papal throne. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is another candidate. He represents the liberal wing and is a follower of Pope Francis in his ideas.