Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle are considered top contenders, according to The Associated Press. Parolin, who served as Pope Francis' Secretary of State, is well-known among the cardinals. Tagle, head of the Vatican's evangelization office, is often mentioned as a potential first Asian pope.

Cardinals will meet next month in a secret conclave to elect the next pope, the Vatican has said. The closed-door meeting will start inside the Sistine Chapel on 7 May and will involve some 135 cardinals from across the world. It follows the death of Pope Francis who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday and whose funeral was held on Saturday.

About 130 cardinals will be able to vote on a successor for Francis, and a two-thirds majority is needed to elect the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.