The next pope: Continuity, change or surprise? (The Dark Horse: Pierbattista Pizzaballa)

CBC ^ | 04/21/2025 | Megan Williams

[Az Joe]

Cardinals will gather in Rome to elect successor to Pope Francis

He was the great disruptor to some and the radical modernizer the Roman Catholic Church desperately needed to others.

The remarkable — and at times turbulent — 12-year papacy of Pope Francis, who died Monday, was marked by ambitious reforms, internal division and global controversy. In the coming days, cardinals from every corner of the Catholic world will begin the process of electing a successor.

In the Sistine Chapel, under the magnificent Last Judgment painted by Michelangelo half a millennia ago, 137 cardinal electors will convene and begin casting their secret, successive rounds of voting for the next leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics.

[Verginius Rufus]

You must be the oldest Freeper. Pius VIII began his papacy in 1829.

I doubt any new pope will chose Pius for a long time to come, if ever. Names come and go in popularity. Gregory hasn't been used for a long time, or Martin or Adrian. The last Leo died more than 120 years ago.

Picking a recently-used name might be signaling an intention to imitate that pope, so such a name might be avoided for that reason. I hope Francis didn't start a trend of picking a name that no predecessor had had.

[Az Joe]

I’m old but not that old

Pius the 12th

[Verginius Rufus]

I figured Pius XII. I was born during his pontificate as well. I was in grade school when he died.

I read a story once that I think involved Graham Greene and Pius XII. Greene had a private meeting with the pope and confessed that he had always had a secret wish to be canonized by the pope. Pius XII pointed out that you have to be dead to be canonized but offered: "if you pretend to be dead I will pretend to canonize you."

A contrast to his public always dignified appearance.

[Az Joe]

Good tale