On December 8, the number of cardinal electors will be 141 and Italy will recover ground. It will go from 13 to 16, although it will still be far from the 28 who entered the Sistine Chapel to elect Pope Francis. With the Argentine pope, its presence in this select group decreased by 42%.
In the next consistory there will be no new cardinal from the United States. However, this country will remain the second largest with 10 cardinals. The last one to appoint was Robert Francis Prevost in 2023, current prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
There are two countries that share the third position in this particular ranking. They are Spain and Brazil, with seven purpurates each.
At the continental level, Europe will increase its presence. It will increase from 49 cardinal electors to 56. Asia will have four more and will reach 24. North America 20, Africa 18, South America 17 and Oceania 4.
