Philippines: Pope Francis backed him when he took on a president. Now he’s voting in the conclave

How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.

Introduction:

The news topic “Philippines: Pope Francis backed him when he took on a president. Now he’s voting in the conclave” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.

Quick Summary:

• Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David is one of three Filipino cardinals taking part in the conclave. He was appointed by Pope Francis and has spent his life campaigning for the poor and marginalised. The Philippines has the largest Roman Catholic population in Asia, nearly 80% of its 100 million people. Yet the church is facing headwinds there. Its doctrines on divorce and family planning are being chaotically challenged. It’s one reason why Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is believed to be a papabile, or frontrunner to replace Pope Francis. The country is considered a bright spot for the Roman Catholic church, where faith is strong, its rituals woven into the fabric of society. It is also the third-largest in the world, and the largest in Asia by number of Catholics per head of state. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
• The College of Cardinals will gather for a special mass at 10 a.m. local time. The service, known as “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice,’ will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Re. At around midday, the cardinals will break for a long lunch and a final period of reflection. At 4:30 p.m., they will begin their elaborate procession into the Sistine Chapel. If white smoke billows from the chapel’s chimney, this means a new pope has been chosen — and he will be revealed to the public from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. If the smoke is black, it means no cardinal has garnered two thirds of the votes. A second round would then be held Thursday.

Country-by-Country Breakdown:

Pope Francis backed him when he took on a president. Now he’s voting in the conclave

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David is one of three Filipino cardinals taking part in the conclave. He was appointed by Pope Francis and has spent his life campaigning for the poor and marginalised. The Philippines has the largest Roman Catholic population in Asia, nearly 80% of its 100 million people. Yet the church is facing headwinds there. Its doctrines on divorce and family planning are being chaotically challenged. It’s one reason why Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is believed to be a papabile, or frontrunner to replace Pope Francis. The country is considered a bright spot for the Roman Catholic church, where faith is strong, its rituals woven into the fabric of society. It is also the third-largest in the world, and the largest in Asia by number of Catholics per head of state. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. Read full article

May 7, 2025 – Day 1 Papal Conclave news at the Vatican following Pope Francis’ passing

The College of Cardinals will gather for a special mass at 10 a.m. local time. The service, known as “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice,’ will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Re. At around midday, the cardinals will break for a long lunch and a final period of reflection. At 4:30 p.m., they will begin their elaborate procession into the Sistine Chapel. If white smoke billows from the chapel’s chimney, this means a new pope has been chosen — and he will be revealed to the public from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. If the smoke is black, it means no cardinal has garnered two thirds of the votes. A second round would then be held Thursday. Read full article

What to Know About the Conclave to Choose Pope Francis’ Successor – The New York Times

Experts say there isn’t a single front-runner, but several names have been cited. One big question is whether a successor to Francis should push forward or roll back the changes he made to the church. As expected, the cardinals did not make their pick on Wednesday. They will participate in four rounds of voting every day until a two-thirds majority agrees on a candidate. There is no indication of how long it will take, though the last two conclaves reached decisions within two days. It’s very difficult to predict who will be chosen: Before the selection of Pope Francis in 2013, many bookmakers did not count him among the front-runners. The next pope technically doesn’T have to be among the card Cardinals who can vote. But he will almost certainly come from the conclave’S electorate. Read full article

The Promise and Possibility of Cardinal Tagle—Even to a Lapsed Catholic Like Me

The Philippines has the largest Catholic population in the world. Pope Francis is expected to name a Filipino as his successor. The Philippines has a population of 1.4 billion people, making it one of the world’s most populous countries. The country has a long history of Catholicism, dating back to the 12th century. It is the first time a pope has been born outside of the United States. The current pope, John Paul II, was born in Argentina and died in Rome in 1978. He was the first pontiff to be born outside the U.S., and the first to be elected to the papal throne. The next pope, Benedict XVI, will be elected in 2023, when the new pope is inaugurated. The new pope will be the first non-American pope in more than 100 years, and he will be followed by a generation of Americans. Read full article

Who Wants the Smoke? Trying to Predict the Unpredictable Papal Conclave.

The papal conclave is one of the most secretive traditions and events in the world. There’s no outward politicking. No man puts his name forward to become a candidate publicly. The votes are submitted on folded pieces of paper and then burned after each round of votes is tallied. We’ll get just one daily signal from Rome during the conclave: smoke above the Sistine Chapel. If it’s black, that means no new pope was chosen that day following the death of Pope Francis. The seat of the papacy is vacant (“sede vacante” in Latin) following theDeath of PopeFrancis on April 21. One hundred and thirty-three voting-eligible cardinals (all of whom must be under 80 years old) will begin the con discourse on Wednesday in the sistine chapel. Read full article

Disinformation and conspiracy theories circulate as papal conclave begins

Online users falsely claim pope has already been elected. YouTube video purporting to be a news report claimed the Philippines’ Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle had been selected. The 67-year-old Filipino has decades of cardinal experience and is considered to belong to the “moderate” wing of the Catholic Church. He’s also been dubbed by some as the “Asian Francis” due to his concern for the poor and the marginalised which came to distiune. The conclave will see 133 Cardinal electors isolate themselves within the Vatican’’s Sistine Chapel. One round of voting is expected to take place on Wednesday followed by four rounds each day before a cardinal receives the two-thirds majority needed to be elected pope. The process will take as long as it needs to achieve the necessary majority, although the three most recent conclaves have all lasted less than three days. Read full article

Who will be the next Pope? Top candidates in an unpredictable process

The 133 cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel from 16:30 (14:30GMT) They will debate and then vote for their preferred candidate until a single name secures the support of two-thirds of them. The choice could have a profound impact on the Catholic Church and the world’s 1.4 billion baptised Roman Catholics. With 80% of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis himself, most are not only electing a pope for the first time, but will offer a broad global perspective. Fewer than half of those given a vote will be European. Could an African, an Asian or even an American pope be elected? Or might they favour one of the old hands of the Vatican administration? Here are some of the names being mentioned as Francis’ potential successor: Pietro Parolin, Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu. Read full article

Who will replace Pope Francis? These cardinals stand out in the conclave

Cardinals from across the globe have flocked to Rome to vote in the conclave. This year is also the most diverse conclave in history, with the 133 cardinal-electors representing 72 different countries. There are many cardinals known as “papabile”, meaning they possess qualities considered necessary to be pope. But each has their own unique credentials, connections and appeal. Here’s a look at some of the candidates who stand out for different reasons. The most credentialed candidate is Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, the Vatican’s secretary of state. He played a key role in mediating a thaw between the U.S. and Cuba and is seen as an expert in matters concerning the Middle East. The pope will be chosen through a secret vote at the end of the month. Read full article

Who is Raymond Burke, the cardinal Donald Trump wants to be the next Pope?

Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, is a highly conservative cleric. He has clashed repeatedly with Pope Francis over most of the main issues facing the Catholic church. Burke has taken a consistently hard line against softening the church’s policy towards LGBTQ people, divorce, or the role of women in the church. The bookmakers have had him as sixth favorite to take over at the Vatican. The process of electing a new Pope gets underway on Wednesday, May 7, after Pope Francis, 88, passed away on Easter Monday. In 2016, when Pope Francis was criticising the president’s plans to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, Burke offered his support for the Republican, saying he was “defending the values of the church ”. Now it seems Trump, serving his second term as President, is keen to see Burke installed in the Vatican as the new Pope. Read full article

Global Perspectives Summary:

Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.

How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.

Sources:

• Pope Francis backed him when he took on a president. Now he’s voting in the conclave
• May 7, 2025 – Day 1 Papal Conclave news at the Vatican following Pope Francis’ passing
• What to Know About the Conclave to Choose Pope Francis’ Successor – The New York Times
• The Promise and Possibility of Cardinal Tagle—Even to a Lapsed Catholic Like Me
• Who Wants the Smoke? Trying to Predict the Unpredictable Papal Conclave.
• Disinformation and conspiracy theories circulate as papal conclave begins
• Who will be the next Pope? Top candidates in an unpredictable process
• Who will replace Pope Francis? These cardinals stand out in the conclave
• Who is Raymond Burke, the cardinal Donald Trump wants to be the next Pope?

Source: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWkFVX3lxTE5EeUJ0SGxvUklDQ0pMM0dIcVJNT3BPdFUwakE1NGhwNlFoZFd0Y1A1b1RqdzdvV1RzS25FMGh3Q0pmakZEcUdhRm1TVUNkXzhQVGJTWDBrNGQ4UdIBX0FVX3lxTE4zd2oyWlotSU5pV1dWRmRBeW1sdzMyLXR0Wlh0WEVBYWdVY2ppSGVYX0tBdXl1X0RGd05uX3RDWWdmd0lQd1FKU1hTNW80TEdXT3VZZVNyVGlDN25MNXVB?oc=5