With Pope Francis’s passing, the question is: “Who will be the next Pope?” Therefore, this question will be addressed through the “papal conclave.” This solemn tradition, which successfully brought forth Pope Francis in 2013, guarantees that the next leader of the Catholic Church will be selected with care and thoughtful consideration. Let us delve into the forthcoming steps in this significant journey.
The Papal Conclave Process
The College of Cardinals decisively declares nine days of mourning following the passing of a pope. These nine days, referred to as “novemdiales,” provide a sacred opportunity for them to unite in prayer with Catholics worldwide for the soul of the deceased pope. The Cardinals conduct the funeral rites during this time with great solemnity and reverence.
Following the death or resignation of a pope, the period known as “sede vacante” begins. The papacy is vacant, and the College of Cardinals temporarily oversees Church administration. The “conclave preparation” is when the Church’s cardinals gather at the Sistine Chapel. Once assembled, the process begins:
- Cardinals over 80 years of age cannot vote for the new Pope. Pope Paul VI instituted this rule in 1970.
- The Cardinals decisively cast secret ballots, and a two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pope.
- The newly elected Pope boldly embraces the opportunity to finalize the process. The candidate thoughtfully selects his papal name and is triumphantly introduced to the world with the powerful declaration of “Habemus Papam!” This translates to “We have a pope!” in Latin.
Potential Successors to Pope Francis
The potential successors to Pope Francis have various styles and backgrounds:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a distinguished figure from Italy, serves as the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Renowned for his diplomatic skills, Cardinal Parolin played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of Francis’s pontificate.
- Cardinal Luis Tagle, from the Philippines, is poised to make history as the first Asian pope. His passionate pastoral approach and deep connections to the universal Church inspire countless souls around the globe. He is revered for his transformative approach.
- Additionally, Cardinal Mario Grech, who hails from Malta, is the esteemed Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. He is widely recognized for adeptly balancing the progressive and conservative factions within the Church.
Several prominent Cardinals emerge as strong contenders for the papacy, and people commonly refer to this group as the “papabili.” In reality, the Cardinals will likely choose the next Pope from this distinguished group; it is possible to elect a younger candidate outside of it since most of the “papabili” are in their sixties and seventies.
Which Direction Will the Church Go After the Papal Conclave?
This is a fascinating question that many Catholics need answered. Will we see a pope who is more conservative in his approach, or one who is more aligned with Pope Francis’ liberal leanings? Could we see a Pope with a more balanced perspective, like John Paul II? Will some reforms started under Pope Francis continue with the new pope? Please pray for a strong leader as the world needs one.
The next pope will tackle significant challenges ahead:
- The fallout from the sex scandal persists. Pope Francis took several actions; The next pope must be more proactive in building a series of checks and balances to prevent this from happening again. These checks and balances must be transparent to the public to regain confidence in the Church.
- Church attendance in the United States continues to decline. Pope Francis embraced the Hispanic communities and brought more people to the Church. The recent Presidential election showed a significant shift in the youth vote from the liberal party and policies to a more balanced view. This could be an important opportunity to embrace these young people and help them to grow their faith.
- Furthermore, the new pope will navigate a politically divided world. It is critical that the new pope be able to communicate effectively to lead Catholics from this divisiveness to the peace of following Jesus.
- Upholding the Church’s teachings on social justice in a rapidly changing world.
- The new pope must find ways to engage the youth in the world and focus on critical issues like mental health. The suicide rate amongst our young people is very high.
Moving Forward
This is a sad yet exciting time as we await a new leader. Please pray for the College of Cardinals as they proceed in the immediate future. Please let me know your thoughts on this article in the “Comments” section.
Peace
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