KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — As the College of Cardinals prepares to convene in the Sistine Chapel to choose the next Pope, the possibility of an Asian pontiff has emerged as a genuine prospect for the first time.

Among the 23 Asian cardinals eligible to vote, Cardinal is a prominent figure, often referred to as the “Philippine Francis.”

The 67-year-old enjoys a close relationship with Pope Francis, having served as his special envoy to Asia during the 2015-16 Jubilee Year, which included a brief visit to Taipei, Taiwan. Tagle also accompanied Pope Francis on his inaugural international trip to Asia in 2014 to South Korea.

Pope Francis has marked several milestones in Asia, including becoming the first Pope to visit Myanmar in 2017 and Mongolia in 2023. According to Thomas Tu, a Vatican diplomacy expert at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, while Mongolia has a small Catholic population of about 1,400, it now has a cardinal, although Italian-born and only 50 years old, making his papal election unlikely.

Another potential Asian candidate is Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, 76, from Burma, where Catholics constitute approximately 1% of the population. Recent reports from South Korean newspapers suggest that South Korean Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, 74, is also a leading contender to succeed Pope Francis.

Tu notes that Catholicism is experiencing rapid growth in South Korea, with both Buddhists and Protestants converting at significant rates.

“Unlike in Brazil, where Catholics are losing members to Evangelicals, Korea’s Catholic Church is attracting new followers,” Tu said. Then-Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik is widely credited with helping persuade Pope Francis to make South Korea the first stop on his Asian travels in 2014. Heung-sik was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022.

Francis could be remembered as one of the most influential popes in history. Pope John Paul II broke ground as the first Polish pope, with a 26-year pontificate (1978-2006). Francis, who led the Catholic Church for nearly 12 years, appointed 80% of the cardinals who will elect his successor.

Pope Francis also increased the number of cardinals, resulting in a historic shift where European cardinals are now in the minority for the upcoming conclave. However, some analysts caution against automatically expecting a “Francis the Second,” as many of these new cardinals hold more conservative views.

The number of Catholics in a cardinal’s home country may not always align with their representation. In Japan, Catholics account for less than 0.5% of the population, yet there is a Japanese cardinal who maintains an active presence on social media. has the largest contingent of Asian cardinals with six, compared to the predominantly Catholic Philippines with five.

Nevertheless, many Vatican observers still see Cardinal Tagle as the most promising Asian candidate, although his progressive views may create division. Tagle has openly criticized the church for its “harsh words” in past condemnations of LGBTQ Catholics and remarried divorcees, advocating for a more inclusive approach. This aligns with Pope Francis’ 2015 declaration that the church should “avoid judgments which do not take into account the complexity of various situations.”

If Tagle were to defy expectations and become the next Pope, his election would invigorate the church’s progressive wing, as he would likely continue Francis’ liberal trajectory. His commitment to serving the poor has garnered widespread admiration in Asia and beyond, as has his approachable demeanor. Tagle is said to prefer being addressed by his nickname “Chito,” rather than his formal title.

Thomas Tu recounted a personal story illustrating Tagle’s empathy, recalling an instance before Tagle became a cardinal. When a young seminarian passed away unexpectedly, Tagle joined the senior seminary members in visiting the bereaved family, later delivering a moving homily in which he “compared the church to a mother, similar to the one who had lost her son,” Tu explained. “Tagle just has a way of reaching people that is special.”

Few would argue that the election of the next Pope will be one of the most critical moments for the Catholic Church in recent decades. And, for the first time, Asian candidates are being seriously considered in discussions about the future direction of the faith.

“`