Brazilian cardinals gain strength in the conclave that will elect new Pope

On May 7th, at the Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican, the conclave will begin that will elect the successor of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, who died on April 21. The College of Cardinals, currently composed of 252 members, decided on Monday (28) the date of starting the vote at a meeting of the fifth general congregation.

Of the total cardinals, only 135, all under 80, are qualified to vote. Seven of the eight Brazilian cardinals are part of this group. The only Brazilian outside the voting process is Dom Raymundo Damasceno Assis, 88, Archbishop Emeritus of Aparecida (SP), who, although without voting, participates in discussions and may even be elected.

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Voting Brazilians include heavy names in the Catholic Church:

• João Braz de Aviz (77 years): Born in Mafra (SC), is mayor of the Congregation for the Consecrated Life Institutes and was the Archbishop of Brasilia.
• Paulo Cezar Costa (57 years): Archbishop of Brasilia, is one of the youngest leaders of the Brazilian delegation, with strong performance at CNBB and Celam.
• Sérgio da Rocha (65 years): Archbishop of Salvador and Primate of Brazil, is a member of the Cardinal Council that advises the Pope.
• Odilo Pedro Scherer (75 years): Archbishop of São Paulo, one of the most experienced, has held key positions at CNBB and the Latin American episcopate.
• Jaime Spengler (64 years): President of CNBB and Archbishop of Porto Alegre, newly created Cardinal in 2024, brings the renewing force of the national episcopate.
• Leonardo Ulrich Steiner (74 years old): Archbishop of Manaus and active voice on Amazonian issues, Cardinal was created in 2022.
• Orani João Tempesta (74 years): Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro since 2009, a prominent figure in the Brazilian Church and appointed cardinal in 2014.

The Conclave, which means “closed to the key”, will follow the rigid protocol described in the Apostolic Constitution The universe dominic of the flockinstituted by John Paul II and updated by Benedict XVI. Isolated in the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals voters will only leave after the election, signaled by traditional white smoke.

The choice requires a qualified majority of two -thirds of the votes. If after 33 or 34 votes no name reaches this number, the election is restricted to the two most voted, still requiring two thirds of the votes. The new Pope, chosen between any of the cardinals present or not, will indicate his pontifical name soon after accepting the election.

With strong representation at the Cardinal College and experienced leaders, Brazil reaches this conclave with renewed influence. Whether participating in the election or guiding the direction of the church, Brazilian cardinals will be at the center of a historic decision for Catholics from around the world.

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with agencies