Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses the "papabile." How do conclave watchers come up with their lists of the next pope (and should we trust them?)

00:00 - A framework for understanding the key factors on "papabile" lists
3:42 - AGE. Not too old, not too young.
7:04 - GEOGRAPHY. Global south or Global north? A cardinal with multi-cultural experience?
13:43 - WORKS AT THE VATICAN. Cardinals who live and work at the Vatican know each other, and the bureaucracy, well.
16:57 - CONTINUITY WITH FRANCIS. Will the cardinals continue Francis' initiatives or move in a different direction?
19:32 - LANGUAGES. The Vatican functions in Italian. Is that a necessity?

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Links from the show:

Backer of Cardinal Parolin attacks Pope Francis’ push for lay involvement in church governance: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/04/30/attack-pope-francis-campaign-cardinal-parolin-250534

The new pope: How journalists (and cardinals) come up with their list of candidates: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/05/01/papabile-conclave-new-pope-cardinals-list-250546

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