Following the death of Pope Francis, Cardinals are set to gather in Rome for the Papal Conclave to select his successor.
There will now be nine days of official mourning with the 1.3 billion Catholics around the world grieving the death of the 88-year-old. The historic conclave process to then pick the next Pope will begin no sooner than in 15 days time.
The Catholic Church may be poised for a historic shift, with several leading candidates who could become the first black or Asian Pope.
Francis was the first Latin American to lead the Church, potentially signalling a wider change in the institution’s leadership.
Bookmakers and Vatican observers are now focusing on a diverse field of contenders from Africa, Asia and Europe to become the next Supreme Pontiff.
Here’s the list of the Cardinals who may become the 267th Pope.
Cardinal Peter Turkson
Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, from Ghana, stands as a leading contender who would make history as the first black Pope if elected.
The former Bishop of Cape Coast was previously considered a favourite during the 2013 conclave when Francis was chosen.
Pope Francis sent Turkson as a peace envoy to South Sudan, highlighting his diplomatic