Asia’s 23 Cardinal Electors: A Rising Voice in the Papal Conclave

As of April 2025, Asia has become a major voice in the Catholic Church, contributing 37 cardinals to the College of Cardinals—23 of whom are electors, eligible to vote in a future papal conclave.

This places Asia second only to Europe in terms of cardinal representation, highlighting the growing importance of the region in the global Church.

Asian Highlights:

• India leads in Asia with 6 cardinals (4 electors, 2 non-electors).
• The Philippines follows with 5 cardinals (3 electors, 2 non-electors), underscoring its vibrant Catholic population.
• Other Asian nations with cardinal electors include Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

The College of Cardinals now includes 252 members from 94 countries, with 135 electors and 117 non-electors. Cardinals from Asia’s 20 nations represent a dynamic and diverse voice in Church leadership.

Continental Overview:

• Europe: 114 cardinals (53 electors)
• Asia: 37 cardinals (23 electors)
• South America: 32 cardinals (17 electors)
• Africa: 29 cardinals (18 electors)
• North America: 28 cardinals (16 electors)
• Central America: 8 cardinals (4 electors)
• Oceania: 4 cardinals (4 electors)

Asia’s rise in ecclesiastical representation reflects the vitality and growth of the Catholic faith across the continent, especially in regions where the Church continues to expand and evangelize amidst diverse cultural and religious contexts.

Asian Cardinal Electors by Region

South Asia (6)

India (4):

1. Anthony Cardinal Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, India, Cardinal-Priest of Santi Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica, 15 November 1961 (64)
2. George Jacob Cardinal Koovakad, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal-Deacon of Sant’Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia, 11 August 1973 (Age 52)
3. Baselios Cleemis (Isaac) Cardinal Thottunkal, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (Syro-Malankara), India, Cardinal-Priest of San Gregorio VII, 15 June 1959 (Age 66)
4. Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa e Damão, India, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Via Patriarch of East Indies, 20 January 1953 (Age 72)

Pakistan (1):

1. Joseph Cardinal Coutts, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, Pakistan, Cardinal-Priest of San Bonaventura da Bagnoregio, 21 July 1945 (Age 80)

Sri Lanka (1):

1. Albert Malcolm Ranjith Cardinal Patabendige Don, Archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina, 15 November 1947 (Age 78)

Southeast Asia (9)

Philippines (3):

1. Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Cardinal-Bishop of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle, 21 June 1957 (Age 68)
2. Pablo Virgilio Siongco Cardinal David
   Bishop of Kalookan, Philippines, Cardinal-Priest of Trasfigurazione di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo, 2 March 1959 (Age 66)
3. Jose Lazaro Fuerte Cardinal Advincula Jr., Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, Cardinal-Priest of San Vigilio, 30 March 1952 (Age 73)

Indonesia (1):

1. Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta, Indonesia, Cardinal-Priest of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella, 9 July 1950 (Age 75)

Singapore: (1):

1. William Cardinal Goh Seng Chye, Archbishop of Singapore, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria “Regina Pacis” in Ostia mare, 25 June 1957 (Age 68)

Malaysia (1) :

1. Sebastian Cardinal Francis, Bishop of Penang, Malaysia, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Causa Nostrae Laetitiae, 11 November 1951 (Age 74)

Thailand (1):

1.  Francis Xavier Kriengsak Cardinal Kovithavanij, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangkok, Thailand, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Addolorata, 27 June 1949 (Age 76)

Myanmar (1):

1. Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, S.D.B., Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Ireneo a Centocelle, 29 October 1948 (Age 77)

East Timor (1):

1. Virgilio Cardinal do Carmo da Silva, S.D.B., Archbishop of Díli, Timor-Leste, 27 November 1967 (Age 58), Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Alberto Magno

East Asia (5)

South Korea (1):

1. Lazzaro Cardinal You Heung-sik, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Clergy, Cardinal-Deacon of Gesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola, 17 November 1951 (Age74)

Japan (2):

1. Thomas Aquino Manyo Cardinal Maeda, Archbishop of Osaka-Takamatsu, Japan, 3 March 1949 (Age 76), Cardinal-Priest of Santa Pudenziana
2. Tarcisio Isao Cardinal Kikuchi, S.V.D., Archbishop of Tōkyō, Japan, 1 November 1958 (Age 67), Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni Leonardi

Mongolia (1):

1. Giorgio Cardinal Marengo, I.M.C., Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Cardinal-Priest of San Giuda Taddeo Apostolo, 7 June 1974 (Age51)

Hong Kong (China) (1):

1. Stephen Cardinal Chow Sau-yan, S.J., Bishop of Hong Kong, China, 7 August 1959 (Age 66), Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni Battista de La Salle

Western Asia (3)

Iran (2):

1. Dominique Joseph Cardinal Mathieu, O.F.M. Conv., Archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan, Iran, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Giovanna Antida Thouret, 13 June 1963 (Age 62)
2. Jerusalem {Gerusalemme}, Palestine (1):
   Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, O.F.M., Patriarch of Jerusalem {Gerusalemme, Palestine, 21 April 1965 (Age 60), Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Onofrio

Iraq (1) 

1. Louis Raphaël I Cardinal Sako, Patriarch of Baghdad (Chaldean), Iraq, Archbishop of Baghdad (Chaldean), 4 July 1949, (Age 76)

Out of the 133 cardinal electors eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave, 23 are from Asia—highlighting the continent’s growing significance in the life of the global Church. Of these 133 electors, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis, reflecting his vision of a diverse and synodal Church.

The participation of these Asian cardinals underscores the universal character of the Catholic Church and the rich cultural and spiritual perspectives that will shape the election of the next pope.