On April 21, the Bishop of Rome, Head of the Catholic Church, and Patriarch of the West, Pope Francis, was pronounced dead. Just the day before, Francis celebrated Easter Sunday with his traditional blessing, Urbi et Orbi—“to the city and world.” He prayed for ceasefires, for liberation for prisoners of war, for humanitarian aid, and for peace in all senses. In the wake of his death and with over 1.4 billion baptized Catholics in the world, many will be looking to see who will next lead this sphere of influence.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the late pope claimed many “firsts” upon his accession. He was the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to become pope. His papal name, “Francis,” was the first of its usage, taken from St. Francis of Assisi. “[St. Francis] is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation,” Francis explained shortly after his papal election in 2013. “How I would love a Church that is poor and for the poor.”
Francis began his papal tenure in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, known for his defense of traditional Catholic doctrine and conservative theology. Inheriting a sexual abuse scandal, declining attendance, and murky finances, Francis sought to reform the Church’s reputation. Francis led the Church towards more progressive ideology alongside greater involvement in foreign affairs.
“Pope Francis, though of a venerable age, spoke eloquently and with passion of issues that define life in this century,” commented Francis X. Clooney, S.J., Parkman Professor of Divinity at the Harvard Divinity School in a statement to the Independent.
“The environmental crisis, and our duty to care for all living beings; the fate of the poor, the homeless and migrants, people at risk in places of violence, the marginalized and excluded; the irreversible reality of religious pluralism, and need for all people of faith to work together for the common good,” Clooney continued.
A hallmark of Francis’s legacy was his effort to increase the Church’s accessibility. “There is always a place in the Church for each and every one,” he said. His Synod on Synodality, a periodic conference for global Church leaders, put some of the Church’s biggest issues up for open debate, such as whether same-sex couples could be blessed, whether women could be ordained as priests, and whether divorced people could receive communion.
He was also the first “digital pope,” amassing over 60 million followers across Twitter and Instagram and reaching billions more through his Facebook Lives. Francis received letters from children and adults alike and often responded online.
However, Pope Francis’s progressive actions have not been without controversy. For instance, his openness to interfaith dialogue, notably with Islam, and his diplomatic outreach to countries like China and Cuba drew both criticism from conservatives who viewed such gestures as compromising Catholic doctrine. Moreover, some of his critics argued that his activism regarding climate change and economic inequality risked politicizing the papacy and alienating the broader Catholic community.
“A pope who perpetuates that [social justice] war will risk permanently alienating the ardent minority of Catholics who attend Mass every Sunday and believe the Church’s ancient teachings, whether they find it easy or not. And that would be damaging indeed,” wrote New York Post editor Julia Yost in an op-ed published after Francis’s death.
Francis also faced criticism from liberal Catholics who felt his reforms were inadequate or confused. Many were frustrated by the Church’s continued refusal to ordain women or fully embrace LGBTQ+ rights. Additionally, some were disillusioned by the slow pace of Vatican reforms, particularly regarding sexual abuse cases, where transparency remained an issue despite a public apology.
Next month, the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church will gather in the papal conclave, the oldest historical method of electing a head of state still in use today. The conclave gathers in the Sistine Chapel, where 120 voting cardinals all under the age of 80 are sequestered in total secrecy. Each day, four ballots will be cast by each cardinal until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority, at which point white smoke from the Sistine Chapel will signal the new pontiff’s election.
Already, cardinals have begun conversations about what the next pope should represent. Meanwhile, speculation outside of the church has ensued, from Catholic schools to sports betting junkies about favorite cardinals, Vatican politics, and national pride. Here are some possible contenders whose names have come up for the next Head of the Church:
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, has served as the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013, making him the Holy See’s top diplomat and the most senior cardinal under 80. He has over four decades of service in the Church, including diplomatic assignments in Nigeria, Mexico, and Venezuela, and as Undersecretary of State for Relations with States.
Parolin is known for his diplomatic skill and moderate theological stance, often balancing progressive and conservative elements within the Church. He has played key roles in negotiations, such as the Vatican’s controversial agreement with China on bishop appointments. Within the Church, Parolin is respected for his administrative competence and ability to navigate complex political landscapes.
If elected pope, Parolin would likely continue the Vatican’s emphasis on diplomacy and global engagement, potentially maintaining a centrist course in Church governance and doctrine. Parolin’s election would mark the first Italian pope since John Paul I in 1978. However, it would be the 218th Italian pope out of the 266 popes in the past, reflecting a return to tradition.
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appia Turkson
The Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, is a moderate conservative from Ghana known for his work on economic inequality, climate change, and social justice. He co-authored a 2011 Vatican document proposing a global financial authority to address economic disparities.
While he upholds traditional Catholic teachings on issues like homosexuality, Turkson’s work has focused heavily on the connection between environmental justice, human rights, and poverty. When he was the head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace from 2009–2017, he helped draft the 2015 encyclical Laudato si’. In his address regarding the cyclical, Turkson remarked that “humanity is not separate from the environment in which we live; rather humanity and the natural environment are one.”
Turkson’s election would make him the first black pope in modern history, both highlighting the Church’s demographic shift towards the Global South and a more active role in global humanitarian efforts.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
A protégé of Pope Francis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Taglee, 67, was born in the Philippines and has served the Church for over 40 years. Tagle would be the first Asian pope in modern history and a strong voice for the Global South.
His friendly demeanor and charismatic communication skills have resonated with younger Catholics and the Internet. Every Sunday, his radio programme, “The Word Exposed,” airs a weekly selection of Bible readings globally. Like Francis, Tagle has encouraged inclusiveness toward LGBT+ youth in recent years, but remains staunchly against abortion, sex education, and accessible contraception. He led Caritas Internationalis, a humanitarian organization, until his removal by Pope Francis in 2022, not for “financial mismanagement or sexual impropriety, but…[because] deficiencies were noted in management and procedures.”
Cardinal Péter Erdő
Born on June 25, 1952, in Budapest, Hungary, Cardinal Péter Erdő was ordained a priest in 1975. He became Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest in 2002 and has served as President of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences since 2005.
Erdő is recognized for his conservative theological stance and scholarly expertise in canon law. He has maintained close ties with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been criticized for inaugurating the trend of democratic backsliding in Central Europe. While respected for his intellect and administrative skills, Erdő’s perceived alignment with nationalist politics has raised concerns among progressive Catholics.
Erdő’s election could signal a shift towards traditionalism within the Church. “You cannot tell the Europeans that they are obliged to allow the whole world into their countries, because that would break down the public order,” commented Edro, during the immigration crisis in Europe. If elected pope, his leadership might prioritize doctrinal clarity over pastoral outreach, potentially influencing the Church’s engagement with contemporary social issues.
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Regardless of who the College elects when the white smoke shows, campus testimonies illustrate Francis’s legacy. At Harvard, the student body has consistently been at least 15% Catholic over the past decade. In memory of Pope Francis, the Harvard Catholic Center wrote “Resquiescat in pace” or “may he rest in peace” on Instagram.
As the Church comes together now to choose a new leader and Harvard itself unites against government orders, it seems appropriate to recall one of Francis’ most memorable quotes, given at the start of the pandemic in St Peter’s Square:
“We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time, important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.”
Caroline Stohrer ’28 (carolinestohrer@college.harvard.edu) now plans to watch the Oscar-nominated movie Conclave and compare it with the real conclave to see how realistic it is.