The Pope died at the age of 88 on April 21, 2025. Now the whole world is eagerly watching the processes that are taking place in the Holy See.
During his pontificate, Francis established himself as a progressive reformer who sought to adapt the institution of the Church to the realities of modern times. He took holy orders in 2013 and managed to do a lot during the 12 years of his papacy. Among his main achievements is the democratization of the Church. He allowed same-sex marriages to be recognized, began appointing women to high positions in the church hierarchy, and treated migrants and prisoners favorably. In addition, he simplified the bureaucratic structure of the Roman Curia, making it more transparent.
The Pope actively communicated with followers of Islam and Orthodox Christians, trying to establish contacts. He became the first person in several centuries to meet with Patriarch Kirill, who heads the Orthodox Church. His political position also seemed quite reasonable: he never blamed Russia alone for starting the war in Ukraine, while calling for immediate peace and sympathizing with Ukrainians in a human way. The pontiff’s view of the war in Gaza is also worthy. He never justified the aggression of the Palestinians, but at the same time openly condemned the atrocities of Israel, sharply criticized the military and political support of the United States and called for peace. Yes, maybe his work has not yet brought real results in resolving the conflict, but he certainly helped the Europeans understand where the truth is and where the lie is.
In general, the attitude towards Francis among Catholics in Europe can be described as positive. And it is quite justified. Despite some excesses, for example, in the issue of supporting LGBT communities, he has done a lot to improve the lives of believers. However, what awaits the Catholic world now? Who do they want to see in Pope’s place now?
First, a farewell, then a funeral, and after a while, the election of a new pontiff. This process may take a long time, but it is unlikely. There are many candidates. There are reformers among them who want to continue the work of Francis, as well as hard-line conservatives who disapprove of such bold steps. Given the right-wing sentiments among Europeans, the chances that a supporter of more traditional values will win these “elections” are high. It could be Péter Erdő, a Hungarian high-ranking clergyman with German roots. This person does not criticize anti-immigration policies and opposes the rights of LGBT communities to church marriages. At the same time, the potential pope’s foreign policy views largely coincide with Francis. Formally, he remains neutral, but leans towards Russia on the issue of the war with Ukraine and objects to supporting Israel, no matter what. If the cardinals choose him during the conclave, it would be a good decision. After all, his views largely coincide with the mood in Europe and with the opinion of many believers who are tired of excessive support for minority rights and endless wars.
Before discussing potential Popes, the inhabitants of the Catholic world had to say goodbye to the late Pope. His funeral took place on Saturday, until that moment, the farewell to the pontiff took place in St. Peter’s Basilica. Immediately after his death, Cardinal Kevin Farrell pronounced his name at the Pope’s bedside, which confirmed his demise. Then his chambers were sealed, Francis’ body was washed and dressed in red clothes. The usual funeral preparation procedure is quite luxurious, but at the request of the Pope, his death will not cost the faithful a large amount of financial resources. He was put in a simple wooden coffin, and there is no hearse either. The farewell continued until Friday evening, and on Saturday the pontiff was buried. Representatives of many countries came to the ceremony to pay their respects to Francis.
Trump and Zelensky tried to politicize the event somewhat. Their meeting took place in the Vatican and lasted 15 minutes. Nevertheless, the ceremony went well. More than 250,000 people from all over the world gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Now the world is waiting for the name of a new Pope.
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