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| How many Roman Catholics are there in the world? | How many Roman Catholics are there in the world? |
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| There are an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world, according to Vatican figures. More than 40% of the world's Catholics live in Latin America - but Africa has seen the biggest growth in Catholic congregations in recent years. | There are an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world, according to Vatican figures. More than 40% of the world's Catholics live in Latin America - but Africa has seen the biggest growth in Catholic congregations in recent years. |
| Latin America accounts for 483 million Catholics, or 41.3% of the total Catholic population. Of the 10 countries in the world with the most Catholics, four are in Latin America. Brazil has the highest Catholic population of any country at more than 150 million. Italy has the most Catholics in Europe, with 57 million, while DR Congo has the biggest Catholic population in Africa, ranking ninth in the world with almost 36 million. | Latin America accounts for 483 million Catholics, or 41.3% of the total Catholic population. Of the 10 countries in the world with the most Catholics, four are in Latin America. Brazil has the highest Catholic population of any country at more than 150 million. Italy has the most Catholics in Europe, with 57 million, while DR Congo has the biggest Catholic population in Africa, ranking ninth in the world with almost 36 million. |
| Global shift | Global shift |
| Since 1970, Catholicism has seen a global shift southwards - the proportion of Catholics living in Europe has declined, from 38.5% to 23.7%, while Africa has seen a growth in the number of Catholics - from 45 million in 1970 to 176 million in 2012, or 15.2%, of the total Catholic population. Asia has also seen a growth in Catholicism and now represents almost 12% of the total Catholic population in the world, or 137 million people. | Since 1970, Catholicism has seen a global shift southwards - the proportion of Catholics living in Europe has declined, from 38.5% to 23.7%, while Africa has seen a growth in the number of Catholics - from 45 million in 1970 to 176 million in 2012, or 15.2%, of the total Catholic population. Asia has also seen a growth in Catholicism and now represents almost 12% of the total Catholic population in the world, or 137 million people. |
| Voting cardinals | Voting cardinals |
| There are 118 cardinals currently eligible to take part in the Conclave - the election of the next Pope - although at least two will turn 80 before the meeting so will be excluded from voting. More than half of the current cardinals were appointed by Benedict XVI and 62 are European - with 21 of those being Italian. | There are 118 cardinals currently eligible to take part in the Conclave - the election of the next Pope - although at least two will turn 80 before the meeting so will be excluded from voting. More than half of the current cardinals were appointed by Benedict XVI and 62 are European - with 21 of those being Italian. |
| Church law says that anyone baptised a Catholic is eligible to be elected as Pope - but for the past 600 years the new pontiff has always been chosen from among the cardinals. Ten cardinals have been identified as potential frontrunners - including three from Europe. But there is speculation that the new pontiff may come from among the church's growth areas in Latin America and Africa. | Church law says that anyone baptised a Catholic is eligible to be elected as Pope - but for the past 600 years the new pontiff has always been chosen from among the cardinals. Ten cardinals have been identified as potential frontrunners - including three from Europe. But there is speculation that the new pontiff may come from among the church's growth areas in Latin America and Africa. |
| CLICKABLE | CLICKABLE |
| Angelo Scola | Angelo Scola |
| Odilo Scherer | Odilo Scherer |
| Timothy Dolan | Timothy Dolan |
| Peter Turkson | Peter Turkson |
| Luis Tagle | Luis Tagle |
| Christopher Schoenborn | Christopher Schoenborn |
| Leonardo Sandri | Leonardo Sandri |
| Marc Ouellet | Marc Ouellet |
| Gianfranco Ravasi | Gianfranco Ravasi |
| Joao Braz de Aviz | Joao Braz de Aviz |
Angelo Scola, Italy | Angelo Scola, Italy |
| Cardinal Angelo Scola, 71, is the most prominent Italian candidate. He is a conservative, who has been close to both John Paul II and Pope Benedict. | Cardinal Angelo Scola, 71, is the most prominent Italian candidate. He is a conservative, who has been close to both John Paul II and Pope Benedict. |
Christopher Schoenborn, Austria | Christopher Schoenborn, Austria |
| Cardinal Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna, is probably the strongest non-Italian candidate from within Europe. He is seen as a conservative, who comes from a family with a long history of high office in the church. | Cardinal Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna, is probably the strongest non-Italian candidate from within Europe. He is seen as a conservative, who comes from a family with a long history of high office in the church. |
Gianfranco Ravasi, Italy | Gianfranco Ravasi, Italy |
| Cardinal Ravasi, 70, has been the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture - or the Vatican's culture minister - for the past five years. Seen as a moderate, but lacks global experience. | Cardinal Ravasi, 70, has been the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture - or the Vatican's culture minister - for the past five years. Seen as a moderate, but lacks global experience. |
Odilo Scherer, Brazil | Odilo Scherer, Brazil |
| The archbishop of Sao Paulo, Cardinal Odilo Scherer, 63, is the most prominent Latin American candidate. He is seen as a compromise choice, who would satisfy European and Latin American congregations. | The archbishop of Sao Paulo, Cardinal Odilo Scherer, 63, is the most prominent Latin American candidate. He is seen as a compromise choice, who would satisfy European and Latin American congregations. |
Leonardo Sandri, Argentina | Leonardo Sandri, Argentina |
| Cardinal Sandri, 63, was born in Buenos Aires in Argentina to Italian parents. Between 2000 and 2007 he was third-in-command at the Vatican, serving as chief of staff. | Cardinal Sandri, 63, was born in Buenos Aires in Argentina to Italian parents. Between 2000 and 2007 he was third-in-command at the Vatican, serving as chief of staff. |
Joao Braz de Aviz, Brazil | Joao Braz de Aviz, Brazil |
| The 65-year-old trained for the priesthood in Brazil, but completed his studies in Italy. As a young parish priest he suffered bullet wounds in an armed robbery and still has some fragments lodged in his body. | The 65-year-old trained for the priesthood in Brazil, but completed his studies in Italy. As a young parish priest he suffered bullet wounds in an armed robbery and still has some fragments lodged in his body. |
Timothy Dolan, US | Timothy Dolan, US |
| Cardinal Dolan, 62, from the United States, is the archbishop of the influential New York archdiocese. However, in the past cardinals have been reulctant to promote figures from a perceived super power state. | Cardinal Dolan, 62, from the United States, is the archbishop of the influential New York archdiocese. However, in the past cardinals have been reulctant to promote figures from a perceived super power state. |
Marc Ouellet, Canada | Marc Ouellet, Canada |
| Cardinal Ouellet, 68, from Canada, has headed the Congregation for Bishops since 2010. His thinking is closely linked with that of the resigning Pope. | Cardinal Ouellet, 68, from Canada, has headed the Congregation for Bishops since 2010. His thinking is closely linked with that of the resigning Pope. |
Peter Turkson, Ghana | Peter Turkson, Ghana |
| Born in western Ghana in October 1948, Peter Turkson became the first-ever Ghanaian cardinal in 2003 when he was appointed by Pope John Paul II. He is the relator, or general secretary, of the Synod for Africa - both the last two Popes served as relators. | Born in western Ghana in October 1948, Peter Turkson became the first-ever Ghanaian cardinal in 2003 when he was appointed by Pope John Paul II. He is the relator, or general secretary, of the Synod for Africa - both the last two Popes served as relators. |
Luis Tagle, Philippines | Luis Tagle, Philippines |
| At 55, Luis Tagle is one of the youngest potential candidates. He is archbishop of the Philippines' capital city, Manila, a 2.8 million-strong archdiocese, and he was made a cardinal only a few months ago, in November 2012. | At 55, Luis Tagle is one of the youngest potential candidates. He is archbishop of the Philippines' capital city, Manila, a 2.8 million-strong archdiocese, and he was made a cardinal only a few months ago, in November 2012. |