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Speculation is swirling about who could be Pope Francis's successor after his death.

But because of the way new popes are elected, it can be a complex question to answer.

Let's unpack how a pope is chosen and look at some of the people Vatican researchers reckon could be contenders for the position.

How does someone become pope?

They have to be elected by a vote.

Only cardinals — who are the second-highest-ranking members of the church under the pope — vote in this election.

And that's only if they're under the age of 80.

There are currently 136 cardinals in that category, according to the Vatican press office's cardinal dashboard.

A candidate has to win two-thirds of the vote to be elected as the new pope.

This vote happens in a secret meeting called a conclave, which can last days, weeks, or months, with four votes a day until a new pope is chosen.

They cast their votes in the Sistine Chapel and live in the dormitories in an on-site boarding house called the Casa Santa Marta.

While all this is going on, they're not allowed to have any contact with the outside world to ensure they don't have outside influences — which keeps the whole process very, very secret.

And this veil of secrecy means it's difficult to pick a single frontrunner.

Who can become the pope?

Technically, any baptised Catholic male can be elected for the top job.

But the pope has been picked from the pool of cardinals for hundreds of years — so it's extremely likely the next pope will be a cardinal.

A cardinal over the age of 80 could become the pope, Catholic historian and commentator Paul Collins says, but he says that would be unlikely.

Could a woman become the pope?

Not under the current rules.

"The reality is that the patriarchy is still entrenched and women need not apply," Dr Collins says.

Who are the frontrunners to become the next pope?

Because the whole process is so secretive, it's really just speculation and educated guesswork.

So we're looking to Catholic media for commentary.

Dr Collins, who was a Catholic priest for 33 years until he resigned in 2001 due to a "doctrinal dispute", thinks there are four major contenders — cardinals we've listed below in alphabetical order.

However, he is quick to point out that it is just his opinion and it's wise to "discount nothing" when it comes to picking a new pope.

Dr Collins says Cardinal Matteo Zuppi could be the next pope, listing fellow progressives Pietro Parolin and Luis Tagle as close alternatives.

He thinks Péter Erdő would be the pick for conservatives.

But Dr Collins is just one of many Catholic commentators.

Another provider of such speculation is The College of Cardinals Report, a website run by an "independent team of Catholic journalists and researchers" led by Edward Pentin and Diane Montagna.

How old was Pope Francis?

88.

He was born on December 17, 1936.

What nationality was Pope Francis?

Argentinian.

When was Pope Francis elected?

In March 2013.

At the time, he was 76 years old.

His name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio but chose to go by Pope Francis when he took on the position.

He was the pope for nearly 12 years.

Who was the pope before Francis?

Benedict XVI.

Benedict resigned in 2013, becoming the first pope in about 600 years to abdicate.

Usually, popes remain in power until they die.

That was the case with Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, who died in 2005.

How many popes have there been?

266.

Pope Francis was the 266th pope and his successor will be the 267th.

What is a pontiff?

Catholics use it as another word for "pope".

The Macquarie Dictionary defines it as "a high or chief priest" so it doesn't strictly mean "pope"; the word can be used to refer to any high-ranking priest.

However, in the Catholic church, the word is generally reserved for the pope only.