The 2025 Conclave is set to commence on Wednesday, May 7, with the inaugural vote also scheduled for the same day. Out of the 133 Electors eligible to cast votes, a significant 108 were appointed as Cardinals by Pope Francis. A noticeable pattern among these appointments is that many of the chosen Cardinals hail from regions far removed from Rome and represent dioceses and Catholic communities that are smaller in terms of numbers. These more remote or “peripheral” areas benefitted from Pope Francis’ preference for diversity in geographical and social representation. His emphasis on including voices from the margins reflects a consistent theme throughout his papacy.
Pope Francis’ approach has led to a broader global inclusion, where communities once overlooked now find themselves with a voice in one of the Church’s most significant proceedings. This shift stems from the Pope’s belief in recognizing the value of these peripheral regions. As a result, “the ‘peripheral’ aspect played in favour of these individuals and their communities, because Pope Francis saw value in this factor.”
However, this emphasis on geographical and numerical diversity has not been without criticism. Larger dioceses that serve vast numbers of Catholics have not only been passed over for a Cardinal appointment but are also entirely unrepresented in the upcoming Conclave. This situation has led to a sense of exclusion among some of the world’s largest Catholic communities. Despite the widely accepted understanding that the elevation of a Cardinal does not strictly correlate with the size of a diocese’s Catholic population, the absence of representation can still leave many believers feeling marginalized. The feeling of connection and spiritual representation at such a global event often hinges on whether someone from one’s own country or region is among the decision-makers.
The article notes, “Although it is understood that the appointment of a Cardinal does not stem from the number of Catholics in a diocese, it can also be seen that many Catholics may or may not feel represented in a Conclave precisely for this reason: because a particular Cardinal represents them in some way.” When looking at global representation through the lens of Catholic population figures, the imbalance becomes evident. The logic follows that the more Catholics in a region, the more the need for representation in a decision-making process as consequential as the papal election.
Yet the numbers paint a different picture. Based on current data, some countries with modest Catholic populations enjoy a higher representation in the Conclave. For instance, France and Spain each have five Cardinal Electors. Argentina and Portugal both have four, while Canada also has four. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has three and Japan has two. These numbers stand in contrast to the actual Catholic populations in these countries, which are significantly smaller than in other nations with fewer or no Cardinal Electors.
The disparity becomes even more glaring when one considers the global Catholic population rankings. The top seven countries with the largest Catholic populations are Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States, Italy, Congo, and Colombia. Given these figures, the U.S. having 10 Cardinals, Brazil with 7, and Poland with 4 appears more consistent with their demographics. However, Mexico, ranked second in global Catholic population, has just two Cardinal Electors. Even more concerning is that both Colombia and Congo have only one Cardinal each, despite their substantial Catholic communities.
Other predominantly Catholic countries also face similar underrepresentation. Nations like Chile, Cuba, Peru, Kenya, and Nigeria each have only one Cardinal Elector. Moreover, there are countries with strong Catholic roots and traditions that find themselves with no representation at all in the Conclave. These include Lebanon, Venezuela, Ireland, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Austria, Bolivia, El Salvador, and the Czech Republic. Such absence at a time when major decisions about the Church’s future leadership are being made can lead to feelings of neglect and exclusion among their Catholic populations.
Beyond countries, entire dioceses that are influential both historically and demographically have also been overlooked. Major global dioceses such as Monterrey in Mexico, Paris in France, Havana in Cuba, Milan in Italy, Vienna in Austria, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Medellin in Colombia, and Kiev in Ukraine have not been granted any Cardinal Electors. Their absence underscores a growing gap between population-based representation and the current selection pattern.
This situation has triggered a wider discussion on the balance between representation and spiritual strategy in the Church. While Pope Francis’ appointments reflect his pastoral vision of inclusivity, diversity, and attention to the margins, the downside is a growing sense among larger Catholic communities that they have been left behind. The Pope’s choice to uplift often underrepresented communities has brought visibility and voice to many, but it has also fueled debate about whether global representation is now skewed too heavily in one direction.
Those advocating for population-based representation argue that with the world’s largest Catholic communities not adequately represented, the decisions made during the Conclave could feel disconnected from the lived realities of millions. On the other hand, supporters of Pope Francis’ approach contend that spiritual leadership and representation should not solely depend on numbers but should reflect a commitment to equity, diversity, and outreach to the peripheries.
Ultimately, the makeup of the 2025 Conclave reflects Pope Francis’ unique vision for the Church—one that values voices from overlooked regions and seeks to include them in the heart of decision-making. However, as the Conclave begins, the debate over who gets a seat at the table—and why—remains unresolved. The deep divide between symbolic and numerical representation underscores the complex challenge of governing a global faith of over a billion members.
As the Cardinals prepare to gather under the Sistine Chapel’s frescoed ceiling to elect the next Pope, the conversation surrounding fairness and representation is likely to persist. The outcome of this Conclave will not only shape the future direction of the Catholic Church but also reflect the evolving values of representation in an increasingly interconnected world.