Could Mexico Have Its First Pope?

The possibility of a Mexican pope is growing as two cardinals are emerging as candidates to succeed Pope Francis, potentially reshaping the Catholic Church's leadership.


Could Mexico Have Its First Pope?

The election of a Mexican pope would not only mark a milestone in the history of the country, but it would also represent an opportunity to strengthen ties between Mexico and the Vatican. Currently, two Mexican cardinals are emerging as possible candidates to succeed Francis at the Holy See. Although the election falls to the Conclave, a group of cardinals from around the world, the presence of Latin American cardinals, especially Mexicans, is gaining prominence in the Catholic Church.

Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, and Francisco Robles Ortega, Archbishop of Guadalajara, are the Mexican cardinals with the greatest projection to become the next pope. Both have a distinguished career and significant influence in the Roman curia. The potential election of a pope of Mexican origin would be a historic change in the Catholic Church, which has traditionally been linked to Europe, especially Italy.

Mexico, a country with a deep Catholic tradition, is at a crucial moment in its ecclesiastical history. With a predominantly Catholic population and a strong influence in Latin America, Mexico has been a reference of faith worldwide. The election of a pope requires a two-thirds majority in the secret voting of the Conclave, so the political and ecclesiastical situation in the Vatican, as well as the influence of cardinals from other nations, will be decisive in this historic process.