Who are the four Indian cardinals electing the new pope?

The Catholic Church has entered a period of sede vacante — the interregnum between papacies, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. A conclave will soon convene in the Sistine Chapel, where 135 cardinal electors under the age of 80 will gather to choose the next leader of the 1.3 billion-strong global Catholic community. It should begin no less than 15 and no more than 20 days after the death of the pope.

The cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel, a Renaissance jewel adorned with Michelangelo’s celebrated frescoes, and hold four ballots a day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, until one candidate wins two-thirds of the votes.

At the end of each session, the ballots are burned in a stove by the chapel, releasing smoke above the Apostolic Palace as the world watches.

If black smoke billows from a chimney overlooking St Peter’s Square, the vote has been unsuccessful.

White smoke signals a new pope has been elected.

Among the cardinal-electors are four from India, one of whom could technically even be the new pope.

Here’s a look at the four Indian cardinals participating in the papal conclave.

Serving as the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Cardinal Ferrao also holds the titles of Patriarch of the East Indies and President of both the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. He is renowned for his commitment to family ministry, interfaith dialogue, and social justice, with a particular focus on supporting migrants and environmental protection.

Born Isaac Thottumkal, Cardinal Cleemis is the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. As President of the Synod of his Church, he has been instrumental in preserving the unique traditions and teachings of the Syro-Malankara community. Elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2012, his leadership has been pivotal in maintaining the spiritual journey of his Church.

Appointed as the Archbishop of Hyderabad, Cardinal Poola made history as the first Dalit cardinal from India. His elevation is seen as a significant step towards inclusivity and equality within the Church, symbolising hope and progress for communities facing caste-based discrimination.

One of the youngest cardinal electors, Cardinal Koovakad hails from Changanassery, Kerala. He currently serves as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and holds the title of Cardinal-Deacon of S. Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia in Rome. His extensive diplomatic career includes service in Algeria, South Korea, Iran, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. Since 2020, he has been part of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, organizing several papal trips, including visits to Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.