As a young parish priest in Brazil, Carinal Braz de Aviz was caught in the cross-fire of an armed robbery, with bullets perforating his lungs, intestines and an eye.

BBC: Papal conclave: Runners and riders

Aside from Scherer, other leading Latin American possibilities include Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69, head of the Vatican's office for Eastern rite churches, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, 65, who has earned praise as head of the Vatican's office for religious congregations.

NPR: Brazil Papal Contender: Place Of Birth Irrelevant