Youngest Pope contender is from Cristiano Ronaldo’s tiny isle and given uncommon nickname
Cardinal Jose Tolentino Mendonca is on a list of other key figures have have been touted as possible future pontiffs following the death of Pope Francis today (April 21) age 88
One of the possible contenders to become the next Pope is from the same tiny island as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Madeira is a tiny island off the west coast of Africa and is an autonomous region of Portugal – it is also the birthplace of Cardinal Jose Tolentino Mendonca, one of the key names to watch in the upcoming election for the new Pope.
He and a list of other key figures have have been touted as possible future pontiffs following the death of Pope Francis today (April 21) age 88.
An avid and celebrated poet he, like Portuguese winger, was born on the tiny island. He didn’t stick around long, though. As a child, he moved with his family to Angola, where he spent time with his father, a fisherman, leaving the country when Portugal withdrew.
He returned to Madeira in 1975.
The 59-year-old now sits in the more ‘progressive’ camp of the possible pack of cardinals who could replace Francis, and at his age is also one of the youngest.
Mendonca would go on to become a celebrated writer, and has completed a number of visiting professorships at universities around the world, including time as a Fellow at New York University.
He is known ‘the poet cardinal’ because Pope Francis told him ‘you are the poetry’ when he enteredn the College of Cardinals in 2019.
He is widely recognized not only as a poet—he represented Portugal at World Poetry Day in 2014—but also as one of the leading intellectuals of the Roman Curia.
His name is now one of those recurring following the passing of Pope Francis.
The death of the 88-year-old was announced this morning after he had been in hospital for over a month before being discharged. The news was confirmed by the Vatican on social media, stating: “Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.”
A spokesman said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
