Papal Candidates
The conclave of 115 cardinals started to vote on the next pope on Monday in the Sistine Chapel. Who could become the Catholic world's next leader?
Miloslav Vlk
Miloslav Vlk, 71, is the archbishop of Prague and shares a similar background with Pope John Paul II. He was representative of eastern European cardinals and is considered a champion of the developing world. He speaks several languages and is in close contact with the Italian Church. But another pope from eastern Europe is considered unlikely.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 68, is archbishop of Buenos Aires. He is considered an influential Jesuit and reserved. He is a supporter of the conservative "Communion and Liberation" movement.
Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano, 77, is the secretary of state in the Vatican and second in the church hierarchy after the pope. He speaks many languages and has been more visible as the pope's health has faded. He is considered by some to be a bland bureaucrat.
Joseph Ratzinger
Joseph Ratzinger, 78, was once the archbishop of Munich and has been considered the pope's right-hand man for some time. Always a name in discussion for papal succession, his age limits him to consideration as a "transition pope," his influence to the role of kingmaker.
Godfried Danneels
Godfried Danneels, 71, archbishop of Malines-Brussels, became a cardinal at 49. He is considered a man of consensus. In many of the Catholic Church's pressing issues, such as priesthood for women, he is considered more open than John Paul II.
Ivan Dias
Ivan Dias, 67, the archbishop of Bombay, India, has travelled around as papal nuncio in Ghana, Togo and Benin, Korea and Albania. As a secretary of the Vatican he was responsible for maintaining relationships to Asian, European and African countries. He has defended the Vatican's conservative stance on abortion and homosexuality.
Camillo Ruini
Camillo Ruini, 74, has been the vicar general of Rome for 14 years. He is the chairman of the Italian bishops' conference.
Francis Arinze
Francis Arinze, 72, from Nigeria became the world's youngest bishop at 32. President of the Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, he has won praise for his work in building bridges to Muslims. He is known as tolerant and as a reformer. Choosing him would mean choosing the first black pope, something the conclave is not expected to do.
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga
The name of Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, 62, of Honduras has surfaced as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II with increasing frequency in the past few years. He was ordained as a cardinal in 2001. He is multilingual and is considered very educated and close to the people. His age could be a strike against him.
Giovanni Battista Re
Giovanni Battista Re, 71, has been at the Vatican since 1987 and is prefect of a department overseeing the appointment of bishops. As a result, he is seen as an insider in contention. He is also considered a hardliner who was one of Pope John Paul II confidantes.
Dionigi Tettamanzi
Dionigi Tettamazi, 69, is the archbishop of Milan and is considered a conservative intellectual and someone who could bring fresh ideas into the papacy. He has a reputation for being warm and affable and is the favorite among the Italian candidates for the job.
Claudio Hummes
Claudio Hummes, 70, of Brazil, the nation with the most Catholics, is the son of German immigrants. He was named bishop in 1975, and has been the archbishop of Sao Paolo since 1998. He is one of a few serious candidates from Latin America, a group that is divided into liberal and conservative camps. Hummes is considered to belong to the latter. The division could mean the two camps block each other out of contention.
Angelo Scola
Angelo Scola, 63, is the patriarch of Venice and has been a cardinal since 2003. His city has produced many popes and, though considered a conservative, he has also been a champion of such progressive ideas as interfaith dialogues.
Dario Catrillon Hoyos
Dario Catrillon Hoyos, 75, of Colombia has been a cardinal since 1998. He is considered a favorite of conservative Europeans and speaks several languages. He is also one of the most experienced cardinals, a fact that could tip the scale in his favor.
Christoph Schönborn
Christoph Schönborn, 60, archbishop of Vienna, is considered a well-educated, highly capable theologian. His ability to speak many languages and his readiness for compromise has earned him respect as very diplomatic. He could be too young for the papacy.