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.

Now that the start date of the papal conclave has been set for May 7, NPR walks through who'll be there and how they'll be electing the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.