Who Will Choose The Next Pope? Meet The 4 Indian Cardinals Among 135 Eligible To Elect The Pontiff
Upon Pope Francis's passing, a nine-day mourning period precedes preparations for the election of the next Pope. Among the 135 Cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave are four from India.
Following the demise of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the Vatican has entered a traditional nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, during which preparations for the election of the next head of the Catholic Church will commence. The mourning period will be followed by a conclave where Cardinals from across the world will gather to elect the next Pope.
Who Are The 4 Indian Cardinals Eligible To Vote In Next Papal Conclave
As of April 19, there are 252 Cardinals globally, of whom 135 are eligible to vote in the papal conclave. While India is home to six cardinals, only four are currently eligible to vote in the next Papal conclave, as Cardinals George Alencherry and Oswald Gracias have both crossed the age of 80, the canonical limit for voting eligibility. The four eligible Indian Cardinals are Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Cardinal Anthony Poola, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, news agency ANI reported.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Antonio Sebastiao do Rosario Ferrao, aged 72, serves as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Daman. He is also the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. Known for championing social justice, he has actively addressed issues related to migration, climate change, family ministry, and interreligious dialogue, Economic Times (ET) reported. He was ordained a priest on 28 October 1979, and received his episcopal ordination on 10 April 1994. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals on 27 August 2022. He serves as the seventh Patriarch of the East Indies.
Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, 64, is the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Church and President of the Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church. He was ordained a priest on 11 June 1986 and received episcopal ordination on 15 August 2001. He was created a Cardinal on 24 November 2012.
Cardinal Anthony Poola, aged 63, is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad. He is notable as India’s first Dalit Cardinal. His mission has centred around uplifting marginalised communities, particularly focusing on the welfare and education of underprivileged children, as per ET's report. His elevation to the College of Cardinals is viewed as a significant move towards addressing caste-based inequalities in the Church.
Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, aged 51, holds the title of Cardinal-Deacon of S. Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia and is the Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. He is a Vatican diplomat and Syro-Malabar Archbishop from Kerala. Before his current appointment, he was closely involved in organising Pope Francis’s international visits, the report stated. In January 2025, he was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. He was ordained a priest on 24 July 2004, consecrated as a bishop on 24 November 2024, and inducted into the College of Cardinals on 7 December 2024.
Speaking to ANI, Cardinal Oswald Gracias remarked, "Pope Francis was a person who spent his life for the sake of the people. His messages were continuously for the world were for peace, compassion for the poor and this same orientation he wanted in the Chruch. He spoke so strongly on migration and the rights of migrants. Even in his personal dealings with world leaders, he insisted on this...He was a man of prayer, dedication and a man of the people..."
#WATCH | Mumbai | On the passing away of Pope Francis, Former Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias says, "Pope Francis was a person who spent his life for the sake of the people. His messages were continuously for the world were for peace, compassion for the poor and… pic.twitter.com/JIPVLHg9wI
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025
"Tomorrow, the cardinals in Rome will meet. I will also leave for Rome in two days. The first thing that they will decide on is when to hold the funeral rites," he added.
Cardinal Baselois Cleemis Thottunkal, on Monday, expressed his condolences over the demise of Pope Francis, remembering him as a leader with deep affection for India and a champion of the marginalised.
Speaking to ANI, Cardinal Cleemis, who also serves as the President of the Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church, said, “Let me express our heartfelt condolences and prayer for solidarity as Pope Francis has passed away.”
Describing the pontiff as a global spiritual figure, he said, “As the leader of the Church and entire humanity, especially a champion of the people who are at the periphery, he stood firm in re-reading the gospel, trying to find our Jesus and his approaches towards human beings, focusing on those marginalised.”
The Cardinal fondly recalled a personal interaction with Pope Francis following his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister. “I personally recall with gratitude that after his meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Pope Francis told me that your country is a great country. Such an affection he had in his mind for India,” he said.
Reflecting on the Pope’s leadership, Cardinal Cleemis noted, “Pope Francis became a leader for those outside the mainstream — an embodiment of exemplary dedication. I have had the opportunity to know him personally since 2013. He held deep respect for Indian culture and led with a unique and inspiring approach. He worked as a symbol of unity in society.”
“Conversations with him were always heartfelt. His spirituality cannot be measured by any ordinary standard. He was a spiritual soul of differences — someone who embraced diversity with compassion and wisdom,” the Cardinal added.
He further noted, “He is a man who is with the people. The last ceremony he participated in was a celebration of faith with the people on Easter.”
Recalling his meetings with the Pope, the Archbishop said the pontiff avoided rigid formalities and made efforts to connect personally. “Recently he had started using a wheelchair but before that he always insisted on personally seeing people out after they finished their meetings with him,” he said.
#WATCH | On the passing away of Pope Francis,
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025
Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Cardinal Cleemis Baselois Thottunkal says, " Let me express our heartfelt condolences and prayer for solidarity as Pope Francis has passed away. As the leader of… pic.twitter.com/0XqX0GlXK1
Cardinal Cleemis also highlighted Pope Francis’ contribution to global discourse through his writings, particularly citing Laudato si, a treatise that addresses environmental degradation and global warming, and urges people worldwide to take “swift and unified global action.”
Cardinal Anthony Poola will depart from Hyderabad to attend the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican and take part in the election of the next Pontiff, the Archdiocese of Hyderabad said in a press note.
Expressing profound grief over the Pope’s passing, Cardinal Poola described him as “a shepherd of Christ’s heart, who led with compassion, courage, and profound love for humanity.” The Archdiocese announced that special Holy Masses and prayer services would be held in honour of Pope Francis’s life and legacy.
“We join with the world in gratitude for his life and in prayer that God may grant him eternal rest,” the Archdiocese said.
The statement also highlighted Pope Francis’s warm relationship with the Church in India, noting his appreciation for the country’s cultural diversity and interreligious harmony. “Pope Francis shared a warm relationship with the Church in India and repeatedly expressed admiration for the country’s cultural richness, religious harmony, and Christian witness. He was known for his prayers and concern for the Indian faithful, especially during times of social and health crises,” it read.
The note further recalled that during his papacy, Pope Francis appointed several Indian archbishops and cardinals, including His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Poola. The Archbishop of Hyderabad became the first Telugu Cardinal in August 2022, marking what the Archdiocese described as “a historic moment of inclusion and representation in the Catholic Church.”
The election process will follow the age-old tradition, with smoke signals emerging from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to indicate the outcome of the voting. Black smoke will signal that a decision has not yet been reached, while white smoke will announce the election of the new Pope.
Pope Francis Death: Tributes Pour In As World Leaders Remember Pontiff As ‘Beacon Of Compassion’
Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 AM on April 21 at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, formally announced his passing, saying, “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. He became the first Pope from the Americas when he was elected on 13 March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.
World leaders have expressed their condolences. French President Emmanuel Macron mourned the Pope’s death in a post on X, writing, “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him. My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply pained” by the passing of the pope. “In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” he wrote.
The White House posted an initial memorial message for the late Pope Francis, writing on X “Rest in Peace” alongside photos of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance meeting the Pontiff.
Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. ✝️ pic.twitter.com/8CGwKaNnTh
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 21, 2025
Trump met Francis at the Vatican in 2017, while Vance met Francis briefly on Sunday, just one day before his death.
President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, also paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying on X, “Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His contagious smile captured millions of people’s hearts across the globe. ‘The People’s Pope’ will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace.”
Related Video
Middle East conflict: Iran Drone Strike Sets Fuel Tanks Ablaze at Oman’s Salalah Port
Top Headlines
