Although not a familiar name in the U.S. press, Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest, 72, is a major figure among his peers in Europe, the church’s traditional heartland and the region of about 38.5% of the cardinal electors.

As the Catholic Church’s cardinals prepare to elect a new pope, they must be wary of “elegant speeches” that hide a subtle cruelty toward the poor and vulnerable, said the Vatican’s former doctrinal chief.

The challenge of leading a Catholic flock of 1.4 billion, from that moment on, will be on his shoulders. From theologians to Vatican insiders, there’s agreement that the next pontiff must balance deep faith with sharp governance.

As cardinals gather in Rome ahead of the May 7 conclave, thousands of pilgrims are flocking to the Basilica of St. Denis in Argenteuil, France, to venerate what’s believed to be the holy tunic of Jesus — the seamless robe described in the Gospels.

St. John Paul II had the Domus Sanctae Marthae built primarily to house cardinals in simple comfort during a conclave.

The Holy See’s diplomat to the United Nations has reiterated a call to end nuclear proliferation, saying the best way to honor the late Pope Francis is to “rediscover the spirit” that created the global organization following World War II, and collaboratively strive for peace.

Indeed, “in times of trouble” it’s only natural for Catholics to resort to petitioning their own Mother Mary. And five years ago — on May 1, 2020, during the first terrifying stages of the COVID-19 pandemic — the bishops of the United States did just that.

Although conventional wisdom says he is too young to become pope, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, began appearing on media lists of possible future popes soon after he was created a cardinal in September 2023.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is a popular speaker who is comfortable in several languages, has traveled extensively and is known for his focus on evangelization and care for the poor and for immigrants.

The face of the Catholic Church’s push to reestablish its relationship with the world of culture, a 59-year-old Portuguese poet and theologian, is among the youngest of the cardinals mentioned as a contender to become the successor of St. Peter.