Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:18pm on 21 Apr 2025,Monday India Global
Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the Vatican has entered the traditional nine-day mourning period, Novendiale. The papacy is now vacant, and a Conclave will soon be held to elect the next Pope. Of the 252 Cardinals in the College, 135 are eligible to vote, including four from India. Cardinal Baselios Cleemis from Kerala, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao from Goa, Cardinal George Koovakad from Kerala, and Cardinal Anthony Poola from Andhra Pradesh will represent India. Cardinals Oswald Gracias (Mumbai) and George Alencherry (Kerala), both over 80, are ineligible. Over a billion faithful await their next spiritual leader. (PC: Diocesan Family Service Centre Goa/Malankaratvm/Archdiocese of Hyderabad/National Catholic Register)
