Archbishop Angelo Scola

All 115 cardinals will gather in the Vatican for the papal conclave this week and the list of possible candidates is long. Though any one of them could be the next pope, Vatican experts have identified a few potential favorites.

Archbishop of Milan Angelo Scola is one of the Italian front-runners for the papacy, not least because two popes in the 20th century have come from Milan. Scola, 71, is known for his work on behalf of Christian-Muslim dialogue through the Oasis Foundation, which he created. He is intellectually close to the thought of Benedict XVI, and is widely supported by the powerful Catholic movement of Communion and Liberation. He was nominated by Pope Benedict to the board which oversees Vatican finances, suggesting that he would also be well-placed to bring transparency to Vatican affairs.

In this photograph, Cardinal Scola arrives to lead a mass at the Santi Apostoli church in Rome, March 10, 2013.

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