Much has been made of Pope Francis being the first Jesuit pope. (In case you missed it: Never before had a member of the Society of Jesus been elected to the papacy.) Less remarked upon—though just as historic—is another precedent he quietly overturned: Francis was also the first pope in modern history to come from any religious order.
For 167 years before Francis’ election in 2013, every pope had come from the diocesan clergy—not from the ranks of religious orders. These were mostly priests formed not in vowed communal life but in diocesan seminaries and parishes, trained more in administration and sacramental ministry than in communal discernment, evangelical poverty and obedience. Francis, a Jesuit, brought something different: the sensibility of a vowed religious, a missionary outlook and a spirit of institutional detachment.
The last pope from a religious order had been Gregory XVI, a Camaldolese monk from the Benedictine tradition, who served as pope from 1831 to 1846. Only 34 of the 266 popes in Catholic history have belonged to religious orders. The Benedictines account for the largest share—17 in total—followed by six Augustinians, four Dominicans and four Franciscans. Two came from the Cistercian tradition. Francis has been the only Jesuit. Each brought with him a perspective informed, to varying degrees, by the rhythms of prayer, community and spiritual discipline that defined their religious life.
Since Pope Francis’ death, reactions have been relentless, with headlines, pundits and social media threads focused on one question: Who will succeed him? Will the next pope follow in Francis’ humble black shoes or return to the red loafers of past papacies? (Which, for the record, were never Prada—just red. But the myth persists.)
Most discussions center around a tug-of-war between doctrinal orthodoxy and ecclesial tone—Francis as progressive, his successor as a conservative correction. But perhaps the more revealing question is whether the church will continue the radical novelty Francis brought as a pope from a religious order—and whether this is the continuity needed now.
This brings us to another, perhaps less noted, reform: the composition of the group that will choose his successor—and not just in the much-reported geographic and cultural diversity of his red-hat appointees.
A quiet revolution in the College of Cardinals
Francis’ seemingly deliberate elevation of cardinals from religious orders signals a quiet revolution in the leadership of the global church. Of the 133 electors who will vote in the upcoming conclave, 33 are members of religious congregations—roughly a quarter—all of them were appointed by Francis himself.
All this is not mere statistical noise. It reflects a deeper vision that Francis brought to the papacy as the first religious-order pope in almost two centuries. In his apostolic letter for the Year of Consecrated Life in 2014, he wrote not only as pope but “as a brother who, like yourselves, is consecrated to God.” He described religious life as a sign of “the holiness and vitality present in so many of those called to follow Jesus” and urged religious women and men to “embrace the future with hope.” But for Francis, these weren’t just personal ideals—they were a public and prophetic witness meant to challenge the church’s habits of clericalism, complacency and control. In a separate message for the opening of that Year of Consecrated Life, he urged vowed religious to “wake up the world, illuminate it with your prophetic and countercultural witness!”
In the 1978 conclave that elected John Paul II, just 9 of the 111 cardinal-electors—8.1 percent—were priests from religious orders. That number nearly doubled by 2005, when 18 religious-order cardinals—15.4 percent of the electors—cast ballots in the election of Benedict XVI. It held steady in 2013, with 17 religious-order priests—14.5 percent—participating in the election of Francis.
Now, as the church prepares to enter the conclave on May 7, 33 of the 133 cardinal-electors—24.8 percent—are members of religious orders. The shift is striking.
While John Paul II gradually expanded the presence of religious in the College of Cardinals, Benedict XVI kept the proportion of religious-order electors the same, appointing 7 of the 17 who were in the 2013 conclave.
Now, of the 33 religious-order priests eligible to vote in the 2025 conclave, all were created cardinals by Pope Francis, and none participated in the previous papal election. This represents not only the largest presence of religious in any conclave in recent papal history but also the emergence of a new cohort of church leaders—men shaped by vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, formed in the spiritual charisms of their communities and grounded in traditions of communal discernment, missionary engagement and prophetic witness.
This is not just a shift. It is a statement: never in recent papal history has there been such potential for religious orders to shape the future of the church. As a result, several cardinals from religious orders now rank among the most prominent papabili.
Pope Francis’ emphasis on discernment, synodality and a “poor Church for the poor” grew out of a spirituality steeped in community, mission and resistance to clericalism. In choosing simplicity over splendor, dialogue over decree and prophetic witness over institutional comfort, Francis did not just lead differently—he modeled a different way of being pope. The religious-order cardinals he elevated reflect that same ecclesial imagination: men formed in community, trained to listen and sent to the existential margins of society.
A recent tally reported by Vatican News shows that among the 133 cardinal electors, 33 belong to 18 different religious orders. Notably, the Salesians are the most represented, with five members, followed by four electors each from the Order of Friars Minor and the Jesuits. Other religious orders are represented by two electors each, including the Dominicans, Redemptorists and Divine Word Missionaries. Several more orders have a single elector, such as the Augustinians, Capuchins and Scalabrinians.
While the number of cardinal electors and the diversity of their religious orders is striking, even more significant is the fact that several of these cardinals are former major superiors—leaders chosen to guide their religious communities at the global level.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, former prior general of the Augustinians; Cardinal Joseph Tobin, former superior general of the Redemptorists; Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, former superior general of the Pius X Secular Institute; Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, former master of the Dominicans; and Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who served as rector major of the Salesians before his elevation to the cardinalate—these figures represent more than just diversity. Their presence in the College of Cardinals signals a recovery of religious charisms—rooted in community, mission and prophetic witness—at the very heart of ecclesial governance.
Among the 33, several have also emerged as prominent potential leaders of the universal Catholic Church, as attention turns to who might lead the church after Francis. Here are eight names that regularly appear in the speculative lists circulating ahead of the conclave—alphabetized by last name to avoid any suggestion of ranking and including the four who previously led their congregations as major superiors.
Eight religious-order cardinals to watch
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M.Cap. (65)
A Capuchin friar and the archbishop of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cardinal Ambongo is one of the most prominent African voices in the College of Cardinals. He is known for speaking out on poverty, corruption and the environment. In 2024 he was accused of “seditious behavior” after criticizing the government’s handling of conflict in eastern Congo, though the charges were later dropped. Pope Francis appointed him to the Council of Cardinals in 2020. Trained in moral theology, he defends church teaching on family life and priestly celibacy, opposes “Fiducia Supplicans” and supports synodality as a new way of being church. With experience in politics and pastoral leadership, he is seen as a leading voice from the Global South and a serious contender for the papacy.
Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D. (75)
He is the first Swedish cardinal in history and a member of the Discalced Carmelites. His contemplative spirituality is shaped by his conversion from Lutheranism and his years of ministry in a highly secular country. As Bishop of Stockholm, he has led a small but growing Catholic community with humility and a strong commitment to dialogue. He has spoken out for ecumenism, migrant justice and a church that listens to people on the margins. In an interview with Jesuit journals in 2022, including America, Pope Francis praised him as “a model of guidance,” saying: “He is not afraid of anything. He talks to everybody and is not against anybody. He always aims for the positive.” While firm in his support of church teaching and critical of the German Synodal Way, he takes a more flexible approach to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Known for avoiding the spotlight, he was surprised to be named a cardinal and has tried to see it as God’s will. His Carmelite background gives him a different voice in a group often shaped by administration and governance.
Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B. (64)
A Spanish Salesian who led his order for a decade and became the first rector major ever made a cardinal while still in office. A former provincial in Argentina, he worked closely with then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio and remained close to Pope Francis, who elevated him in 2023 and later appointed him pro-prefect of the Vatican office for religious life. He was ordained a bishop in 2024, after being made a cardinal—an unusual step that signaled deep papal trust. As head of one of the largest religious orders in the world, he visited more than 120 countries and focused on education, youth and the poor. Known for his global outlook and pastoral energy, he supports synodality and represents the missionary style of leadership that Pope Francis has encouraged.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J. (66)
A Jesuit and archbishop of Luxembourg, Cardinal Hollerich served as president of the European bishops’ commission and was a close adviser to Pope Francis as a member of his council of cardinal advisers. He spent nearly two decades as a missionary and educator in Japan, an experience that shaped his emphasis on dialogue and cultural openness. As relator general of the Synod on Synodality, he helped draft its key texts and guided its theological direction. Widely seen as aligned with Francis’ vision, he has called for rethinking church teaching on sexuality, celibacy and women’s roles—positions that have drawn both praise and criticism. His influence on synodality and church reform is expected to carry weight in shaping the direction the church takes after Francis.
Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, P.S.S. (67)
A member of the Pius X Secular Institute and archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal Lacroix is one of the most prominent voices from the North American church. A former missionary in Colombia and later superior general of his institute, he brings both missionary experience and administrative skill to church leadership. He served on Pope Francis’ council of cardinal advisers and has been active in synod discussions, describing the process as a place of listening and spiritual discernment. In 2024, he temporarily stepped aside following an abuse allegation, which was later dismissed after a Vatican investigation. Known for his calm temperament and theological moderation, he is seen as a bridge figure in a polarized church. His experience across Latin America and North America, along with his long service in Canada’s most secularized province, gives him a grounded perspective in ongoing discussions about the church’s future.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M. (60)
The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem and a Franciscan friar, Cardinal Pizzaballa is known for his diplomatic credibility and deep interfaith experience. Born in Italy and formed in the Holy Land, he served for 12 years as custodian of the Holy Places and is fluent in Hebrew, Arabic and Italian. He has earned rare trust across the Israeli-Palestinian divide and has taken bold personal stances for peace—including offering himself in exchange for hostages during the 2023 war in Gaza. Elevated to the cardinalate shortly before that conflict erupted, he has emerged as a global symbol of pastoral courage and bridge-building. While little is known about his theology, he has emphasized the Eucharist, Scripture and priestly formation. His leadership reflects both a Franciscan humility and a practical realism shaped by decades of ministry in one of the most volatile regions of the world.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, O.S.A. (69)
Born in Chicago, Cardinal Prevost is a former prior general of the Augustinians and longtime missionary in Peru. He was appointed by Pope Francis in 2023 to lead the Dicastery for Bishops, one of the most influential roles in the church, where he oversaw the selection of bishops worldwide. Fellow cardinals praise his humility, discretion and balanced judgment. Before his time in Rome, he served as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and played a key role in strengthening church leadership across Latin America. His cross-continental experience has led some to call him “the least American of the Americans.” While some questions have surfaced regarding his handling of abuse cases in Peru, supporters point to his compliance with Vatican protocols. His global reputation as a trusted, steady hand has made him a possible compromise figure in early conclave speculation.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R. (73)
The former superior general of the Redemptorists and current archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Tobin was an early and emblematic appointment by Pope Francis. A longtime advocate for migrants, L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics and the poor, Cardinal Tobin has consistently championed synodality and dialogue, particularly within the polarized U.S. church. He is also a vocal opponent of capital punishment and abortion. Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, Cardinal Tobin brings broad global experience from his time leading a worldwide congregation and serving in the Vatican. While no longer seen as a top contender, his pastoral temperament, linguistic ability and deep alignment with Francis’ vision ensure he remains a respected voice in the College of Cardinals.
The gift of consecrated life to the College of Cardinals—and the church
As the cardinal-electors enter the Sistine Chapel, they carry not only passports from across the globe but also the spiritual DNA of their forebears—St. Benedict, St. Francis, St. Dominic, St. Ignatius and St. John Bosco. Though the religious-order cardinals represent only a handful of regions, the wider college reflects the church’s universality—bishops from nearly every continent gathered not just to vote, but to discern what kind of pastor the church now needs.
Whether or not one of these religious cardinals is elected pope, their shared formation is likely to shape the qualities the next pontiff is expected to embody. Francis often reminded the church that every charism is given for the good of the whole people of God—not just for one’s own community. In that spirit, the witness of consecrated life offers the church not just diversity of background, but a different kind of leadership: rooted in shared mission, shaped by spiritual depth and grounded in obedience to the Gospel.
If the next pope comes from their ranks, he may be more missionary than manager—a successor of Peter who echoes the radical witness of the saints who inspired his order. But even if none of these men dons the white cassock, their presence may still shape how others discern the kind of leader the church needs next.
The future pope may not emerge from their number. But they will undoubtedly have influence—perhaps even as a quiet bloc shaped by their shared commitment to consecrated vowed life, rooted in community and sustained by a deep spirit to discernment. And perhaps the continuity we seem so fixated on—particularly in the West—lies less in the more political or doctrinal positions of the next pope, but in the witness of consecrated life and the gift it brings to the church’s discernment.
At least in that sense, Francis’ legacy may already be shaping the future in ways not yet fully perceived—long before the white smoke rises, and long after.
This article has been updated.
