Posted on 05/02/2025 8:45:05 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
VATICAN CITY // The next pope will not be a “Francis II,” according to seasoned Vatican analyst Marco Politi, who shared his views in an interview with the French news agency AFP ahead of the conclave set to begin May 7.
Politi, a prominent Italian journalist renowned for his progressive insights on Church affairs, responded to questions posed by AFP’s Vatican correspondent Clément Melki regarding the direction the cardinal electors may take. In his view, the successor to Pope Francis will mark a departure from the current pontificate’s distinctive approach.
“We know there will be no Francis II,” he said, emphasizing that Pope Francis’ spontaneous, at times unpredictable, leadership style — marked by dramatic gestures and off-the-cuff remarks — is unlikely to be emulated by the eligible cardinals.
“It is the first conclave in 50 years in which there is a strong feeling of fracture in the Church … That is the main challenge of this conclave,” said Politi, who has reported on the Vatican for decades and authored several books on modern popes, from John Paul II to Francis.
Politi noted that many of the electors, drawn from across the globe, “have never been to a conclave and hardly know each other.” Their limited familiarity with one another — and often with the inner workings of the Vatican’s central administration — creates what he described as a complex electoral landscape. This unfamiliarity, he remarked, “makes this conclave difficult.”
Looking to the future, Politi foresees a different style of papal leadership emerging. “Now, precisely because there’s this idea of bringing everyone together again, we need more careful, more collegial management.” He observed that Pope Francis “made little use of teamwork with the offices of the Curia,” and even “open-minded cardinals” have criticized him for not convening the College of Cardinals more frequently.
In Politi’s assessment, the Church now needs a pope who can act as a bridge-builder — someone capable of “mending fences” between its divided factions.
When asked whether any particular candidate stands out, Politi responded, “I think we have to consider that there may be a surprise. I find it strange these days that a good conservative has not yet emerged as a real candidate.”
He added, “What’s needed is a conservative with a human face, a sympathetic conservative who maybe communicates but then puts the brakes on the (female) diaconate, but does so gently. This figure has not yet appeared.”
The “Church” needs to go after the US FIB for targeting the Latin Mass.
Cretans they are.
I just want someone who will help defend Western Civilization.
Not another gay commie.
Hope he’s right
“The Roman Catholic Church currently prohibits the ordination of women to the diaconate, which is a degree of holy orders.” Always had a bit of wonder about that.
,,, maybe there will be a non-binary Pope, even an AI one?
Wymyn can be a bit hysterical.
No reason to reject them all though.
It won’t happen, but Msgr Pope would be a good candidate, for two reasons: his general doctrinal orthodoxy, and because he could choose his own name and be Pope Pope.
Now that Obama is gone and Trump is in power - maybe a leftist Pope can’t be imposed on Catholics as it was with Francis?
Here’s hoping for a straight, Christian man!
I’m praying for a straight, Catholic Christian man!
“Pope Francis’ spontaneous, at times unpredictable, leadership style — marked by dramatic gestures and off-the-cuff remarks —”
Author is straining mightily here to avoid casting the man in a bad light.
It’s actually rather preposterous.
Still not donating to their system and maybe instead of worrying about the female discontent they should worry about their homosexual seminaries.
When the priest, during Holy Mass, consecrates the host, looking down at same with his elbows on the altar, he is performing a quintessentially male act, akin to the marital act.
In fact, the marital act is derivative of the primary act of priestly consecration.
That’s why priests can only ever be men, Charlie Brown!
Exactly.
That African cardinal, can’t remember his name, but I do remember some saying he is just like what the article is calling for.
Robert Sarah.
That’s it, thank you.
Fully expect they will dig up some unknown who will continue to drive the church into the ground.
I just want someone who believes the teachings of the Church and doesn’t want to change them.
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