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Sky News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Conclave live: Smoke to rise from Sistine Chapel chimney after first round of secret voting for pope
'What an adventure': Cardinals' final posts to online flock before surrendering phones Before surrendering their phones, some of the cardinals now locked away from the outside world until they decide on the new pope took a final opportunity to post on social media. Fernando Chomali Garib, the Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, posted a video on X of himself washing a shirt with the message: "Today I enter the conclave without a cell phone. You can vote on who will be the pope before God alone. A responsibility that overwhelms me." Jean Paul Vesco, the Archbishop of Algiers, used Facebook to send a message to his online friends. "Tonight I enter the silence of the conclave, I can't wait," Vesco said. "This archaic 11th-century institution is demonstrating an incredible modernity in the age of over-media, of social media and of our digital addictions. "No more phones or internet, the windows of our rooms are sealed.... We will emerge with the proclamation: 'habemus papam! What an adventure indeed!" Conservative Cardinal Raymond Burke made an appeal via a video in another Facebook post. "Your prayer is urgent for the cardinals who enter the conclave to choose the successor of Saint Peter," he said. Ukrainian Mykola Bychok, the youngest member of the College of Cardinals at 45, said via social media that: "While I'm in the Sistine Chapel I'll pray for a just peace for Ukraine."
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Who are the US cardinals who will vote for the next pope? There are 10, the largest bloc after Italy
The United States is the home country of 10 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope of the Catholic Church. That's more than any nation except Italy, home to 17 of the electors who will gather at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the conclave that will choose a successor to Pope Francis. Only four of the American electors actively serve as archbishops in the United States: Timothy Dolan of New York, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and Robert McElroy of Washington. Two are retired archbishops: Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Wilton Gregory of Washington. The other four cardinals' careers have included lengthy service at the Vatican: Robert Prevost, James Michael Harvey, Raymond Burke and Kevin Farrell. Here are brief profiles of the cardinal electors: Raymond Burke Burke, 76, a staunch Catholic traditionalist, often clashed with the more reform-minded Pope Francis. Born in Wisconsin, he was a bishop there before serving as archbishop of St. Louis from 2004 to 2008. Pope Benedict XVI had made Burke a cardinal in 2010, after he appointed him prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's high court. After Francis removed him from that post in 2014, he made Burke the cardinal patron of the Knights of Malta, a prestigious but limited role. There, too, Burke and Francis clashed over a governance crisis at the chivalric order; Francis pushed him aside. Burke has been outspoken in saying Catholic politicians shouldn't present themselves for Communion if they support abortion rights. Blase Cupich Cupich, 76, archbishop of Chicago, was a close adviser to Francis and has served on several Vatican committees. He's considered a moderate among his peers, having balanced upholding conservative Catholic teachings on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion with advocacy for compassionate responses to the affected communities. Cupich, who inherited clergy sex abuse crises in dioceses he led, helped push reforms to combat the problem. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he was ordained in 1975 and appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1998 as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. Pope Benedict XVI transferred him in 2010 to Spokane, Washington. In 2014, Francis — in his first major U.S. appointment as pope — made him archbishop of Chicago, and made him a cardinal in 2016. Daniel DiNardo DiNardo, 75, retired this year as archbishop of Galveston-Houston — the fifth-largest U.S. diocese, with 1.7 million Catholics. DiNardo was ordained in his native Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1977. He earned degrees from Catholic universities in Washington and Rome and worked in the Vatican office overseeing appointments of bishops. He served as bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, before moving to Houston in 2004. DiNardo was named a cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. He served as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2016 to 2019. That was a tumultuous time when the USCCB faced numerous allegations of coverups of sexual abuse by priests. DiNardo shared Pope Francis' strong support for migrants while defending traditional church teachings on sexuality. Timothy Dolan Dolan, 75, has been archbishop of New York since 2009. He previously served nearly seven years as archbishop of Milwaukee. He grew up in Missouri, where he was ordained in 1976. Among other duties, Dolan was chairman of Catholic Relief Services and served a term as president of the USCCB. In January 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him a cardinal. Dolan is widely viewed as conservative; he wrote a 2018 Wall Street Journal op-ed headlined 'The Democrats Abandon Catholics.' Yet in 2023, he wrote a letter of welcome to a conference at Fordham University celebrating outreach programs aimed at LGBTQ+ Catholics. Kevin Farrell Farrell, 77, was selected by Pope Francis in 2019 to be the camerlengo, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See after the death of one pope and before the election of another. Farrell was born in Dublin in 1947, entered the Legionaries of Christ religious order in 1966 and was ordained a priest for the order in 1978. He left six years later — before revelations that its founder was a pedophile — and became a priest in the Washington Archdiocese. He worked in several parishes and helped manage finances for the archdiocese. He became auxiliary bishop of Washington in 2001 and served under ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick before becoming bishop of Dallas in 2007. Wilton Gregory Pope Francis tapped Gregory to lead the Archdiocese of Washington in 2019 and made him the first Black cardinal from the U.S. in 2020. Gregory, 77, retired earlier this year from leading the prominent archdiocese, which he shepherded through significant turmoil. Its two previous leaders, McCarrick and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, were implicated in a new wave of the clergy sex abuse scandal. Gregory has supported social justice and solidarity with immigrants. He drew notice for his relatively inclusive approach for LGBTQ+ Catholics. He told an LGBTQ+ group in January: 'I apologize for my own lack of courage to bring healing and hope, and I ask forgiveness.' Gregory was born in Chicago, where he was ordained in 1973 and served as an auxiliary bishop beginning in 1983. After serving for 11 years as bishop in Belleville, Illinois, he was appointed in 2004 by Pope John Paul II to be archbishop of Atlanta. James Michael Harvey Harvey, 76, has pursued a long career at the Vatican, initially as a diplomat and more recently as manager of the papal household. Born in Milwaukee, he studied at seminary there before completing his formation in Rome. He was ordained by Pope Paul VI in Rome in 1975 and entered the Holy See's diplomatic service in 1980. Pope John Paul II appointed Harvey prefect of the Papal Household in 1998, a position entailing management of the pope's official activities. Harvey filled that role for 24 years, under John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict proclaimed Harvey a cardinal in 2012. Robert McElroy Pope Francis named McElroy as archbishop of Washington in January, tapping one of his most progressive allies to head the Catholic Church in the U.S. capital at the start of Donald Trump's second term as president. McElroy criticized Trump's threats of mass deportations of immigrants as 'incompatible with Catholic doctrine.' Francis had appointed McElroy as bishop of San Diego in 2015 and elevated him to cardinal in 2022. McElroy, 71, was one of a few U.S. bishops assailing a campaign to exclude Catholic politicians who support abortion rights from Communion. He has also expressed support for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church. A native San Franciscan, McElroy received a bachelor's degree from Harvard, a master's degree and doctorate from Stanford, and a doctorate from the Gregorian University in Rome. Robert Francis Prevost The Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is prefect of the Vatican's powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop. Francis had an eye on him for years, sending him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Joseph Tobin Tobin, 72, is archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, and a veteran of the Vatican bureaucracy who speaks five languages. The Detroit native was ordained in 1978 and earned master's degrees in religious education and divinity at Mount Saint Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, New York. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Tobin in 2010 as secretary of the Vatican's office overseeing religious orders. Tobin reportedly ruffled feathers by seeking to mend its frayed ties with U.S. nuns facing complaints they had become too liberal. Benedict appointed Tobin archbishop of Indianapolis in 2012. Pope Francis appointed him cardinal and archbishop of Newark in 2016. Tobin welcomed Syrian refugees to Indiana despite opposition from then-Gov. Mike Pence. He has a welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ people. ___ Seven U.S. cardinals, due to being 80 or older, are not conclave electors: Edwin O'Brien, Roger Mahony, Adam Maida, Seán Patrick O'Malley, Justin Rigali, James Francis Stafford, Donald Wuerl. ___ AP journalists Holly Meyer and Tiffany Stanley contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Who are the US cardinals who will vote for the next pope? There are 10, the largest bloc after Italy
The United States is the home country of 10 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope of the Catholic Church. That's more than any nation except Italy, home to 17 of the electors who will gather at the Vatican 's Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the conclave that will choose a successor to Pope Francis. Only four of the American electors actively serve as archbishops in the United States: Timothy Dolan of New York, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and Robert McElroy of Washington. Two are retired archbishops: Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Wilton Gregory of Washington. The other four cardinals' careers have included lengthy service at the Vatican: Robert Prevost, James Michael Harvey, Raymond Burke and Kevin Farrell. Here are brief profiles of the cardinal electors: Raymond Burke Burke, 76, a staunch Catholic traditionalist, often clashed with the more reform-minded Pope Francis. Born in Wisconsin, he was a bishop there before serving as archbishop of St. Louis from 2004 to 2008. Pope Benedict XVI had made Burke a cardinal in 2010, after he appointed him prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's high court. After Francis removed him from that post in 2014, he made Burke the cardinal patron of the Knights of Malta, a prestigious but limited role. There, too, Burke and Francis clashed over a governance crisis at the chivalric order; Francis pushed him aside. Burke has been outspoken in saying Catholic politicians shouldn't present themselves for Communion if they support abortion rights. Blase Cupich Cupich, 76, archbishop of Chicago, was a close adviser to Francis and has served on several Vatican committees. He's considered a moderate among his peers, having balanced upholding conservative Catholic teachings on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion with advocacy for compassionate responses to the affected communities. Cupich, who inherited clergy sex abuse crises in dioceses he led, helped push reforms to combat the problem. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he was ordained in 1975 and appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1998 as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. Pope Benedict XVI transferred him in 2010 to Spokane, Washington. In 2014, Francis — in his first major U.S. appointment as pope — made him archbishop of Chicago, and made him a cardinal in 2016. Daniel DiNardo DiNardo, 75, retired this year as archbishop of Galveston-Houston — the fifth-largest U.S. diocese, with 1.7 million Catholics. DiNardo was ordained in his native Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1977. He earned degrees from Catholic universities in Washington and Rome and worked in the Vatican office overseeing appointments of bishops. He served as bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, before moving to Houston in 2004. DiNardo was named a cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. He served as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2016 to 2019. That was a tumultuous time when the USCCB faced numerous allegations of coverups of sexual abuse by priests. DiNardo shared Pope Francis' strong support for migrants while defending traditional church teachings on sexuality. Timothy Dolan Dolan, 75, has been archbishop of New York since 2009. He previously served nearly seven years as archbishop of Milwaukee. He grew up in Missouri, where he was ordained in 1976. Among other duties, Dolan was chairman of Catholic Relief Services and served a term as president of the USCCB. In January 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him a cardinal. Dolan is widely viewed as conservative; he wrote a 2018 Wall Street Journal op-ed headlined 'The Democrats Abandon Catholics.' Yet in 2023, he wrote a letter of welcome to a conference at Fordham University celebrating outreach programs aimed at LGBTQ+ Catholics. Kevin Farrell Farrell, 77, was selected by Pope Francis in 2019 to be the camerlengo, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See after the death of one pope and before the election of another. Farrell was born in Dublin in 1947, entered the Legionaries of Christ religious order in 1966 and was ordained a priest for the order in 1978. He left six years later — before revelations that its founder was a pedophile — and became a priest in the Washington Archdiocese. He worked in several parishes and helped manage finances for the archdiocese. He became auxiliary bishop of Washington in 2001 and served under ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick before becoming bishop of Dallas in 2007. Wilton Gregory Pope Francis tapped Gregory to lead the Archdiocese of Washington in 2019 and made him the first Black cardinal from the U.S. in 2020. Gregory, 77, retired earlier this year from leading the prominent archdiocese, which he shepherded through significant turmoil. Its two previous leaders, McCarrick and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, were implicated in a new wave of the clergy sex abuse scandal. Gregory has supported social justice and solidarity with immigrants. He drew notice for his relatively inclusive approach for LGBTQ+ Catholics. He told an LGBTQ+ group in January: 'I apologize for my own lack of courage to bring healing and hope, and I ask forgiveness.' Gregory was born in Chicago, where he was ordained in 1973 and served as an auxiliary bishop beginning in 1983. After serving for 11 years as bishop in Belleville, Illinois, he was appointed in 2004 by Pope John Paul II to be archbishop of Atlanta. James Michael Harvey Harvey, 76, has pursued a long career at the Vatican, initially as a diplomat and more recently as manager of the papal household. Born in Milwaukee, he studied at seminary there before completing his formation in Rome. He was ordained by Pope Paul VI in Rome in 1975 and entered the Holy See's diplomatic service in 1980. Pope John Paul II appointed Harvey prefect of the Papal Household in 1998, a position entailing management of the pope's official activities. Harvey filled that role for 24 years, under John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict proclaimed Harvey a cardinal in 2012. Robert McElroy Pope Francis named McElroy as archbishop of Washington in January, tapping one of his most progressive allies to head the Catholic Church in the U.S. capital at the start of Donald Trump's second term as president. McElroy criticized Trump's threats of mass deportations of immigrants as 'incompatible with Catholic doctrine.' Francis had appointed McElroy as bishop of San Diego in 2015 and elevated him to cardinal in 2022. McElroy, 71, was one of a few U.S. bishops assailing a campaign to exclude Catholic politicians who support abortion rights from Communion. He has also expressed support for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church. A native San Franciscan, McElroy received a bachelor's degree from Harvard, a master's degree and doctorate from Stanford, and a doctorate from the Gregorian University in Rome. Robert Francis Prevost The Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is prefect of the Vatican's powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop. Francis had an eye on him for years, sending him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Joseph Tobin Tobin, 72, is archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, and a veteran of the Vatican bureaucracy who speaks five languages. The Detroit native was ordained in 1978 and earned master's degrees in religious education and divinity at Mount Saint Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, New York. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Tobin in 2010 as secretary of the Vatican's office overseeing religious orders. Tobin reportedly ruffled feathers by seeking to mend its frayed ties with U.S. nuns facing complaints they had become too liberal. Benedict appointed Tobin archbishop of Indianapolis in 2012. Pope Francis appointed him cardinal and archbishop of Newark in 2016. Tobin welcomed Syrian refugees to Indiana despite opposition from then-Gov. Mike Pence. He has a welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ people. ___ Seven U.S. cardinals, due to being 80 or older, are not conclave electors: Edwin O'Brien, Roger Mahony, Adam Maida, Seán Patrick O'Malley, Justin Rigali, James Francis Stafford, Donald Wuerl. ___ AP journalists Holly Meyer and Tiffany Stanley contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Who will be the new pope? Clock ticking down toward historic conclave
Who will be the new pope? Clock ticking down toward historic conclave Show Caption Hide Caption Most divers papal conclave includes electors from 71 countries With electors from 71 countries, this will be the most geographically diverse conclave to choose a pope. The Roman Catholic College of Cardinals will gather Wednesday at the Vatican to begin the process of selecting a pontiff to replace Pope Francis, a beloved figure whose 12-year reign ended with his death April 21 at the age of 88. Francis sought to make the church welcoming and inclusive. He eased rules on annulments and remarriage within the church and allowed priests to bless same-sex marriages. Some Catholics believe he went too far − including Cardinal Raymond Burke, who was raised on a Midwest dairy farm and blamed Francis' efforts for 'confusion, error and division" within the church. Now the gathering of more than 130 voting cardinals must decide whether to continue in the direction of Francis or elect a pope likely to choose a more traditional path for the church: A pope willing to confront world leaders in defense of the marginalized or a pope who confines his commentary to strictly church matters. Francis made history as the first pope from Latin America. There has never been one from the U.S. and the next one is also likely to hail from elsewhere. Will we see the first American pope? How USA's image could come into play Italy has provided 217 of the 266 popes, and some Italians are among a long list of cardinals considered strong contenders. They include Matteo Zuppi, 69, a close associate of Francis; Pietro Parolin, 70, the Vatican Secretary of State who is considered a moderate; and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, an Italian who served the church in Jerusalem for more than a decade and whose relative youth could work against him. Some top contenders from outside Italy include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, a liberal sometimes referred to as "Francis 2;" Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, of Hungary, who is considered a favorite among the more conservative cardinals; and Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76, of Ghana, who would be the first pope from sub-Saharan Africa. A battle for the soul of the Church: What's at stake in conclave this week The conclave will continue until a pope is elected. One vote is expected the first day, then two each morning and two each afternoon until a candidate claims the two-thirds majority. The ballots are burned after each vote; black smoke emits from the Sistine Chapel when the vote fails to select a pope. White smoke means the decision has been made. If the electors fail to reach an agreement after three days, a break of up to one day is allowed "for prayer, free discussion among voters and a brief spiritual exhortation." There is no set time limit for the conclave, but recent conclaves have lasted only a few days. Betting odds rise for one favorite: Who will be the next pope? Though Francis didn't make any major changes to the conclave itself, his outreach to what he called 'the peripheries'' left an imprint. A record 108 of voting cardinals were appointed by Francis, more than 80%. For the first time in memory, Europeans make up less than 50% of the voting cardinals. And more than two dozen cardinal electors are from countries that have never voted for a pope, among them Rwanda, Myanmar and South Sudan, according to the Washington Post. 'There are now many cardinals from Asia and North Africa who are potential popes," said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University. "That makes it different than it has been for many centuries.' A conclave like no other: How papal pick gathering is different this year Each new pope, once chosen by a conclave of the College of Cardinals, can take on a new name, one infused with meaning, history and tradition. When Jorge Bergoglio ascended to the papacy, he chose to become Pope Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th century friar who rejected his family's wealth and went to live, minister and work among the poor. Other popes have chosen names that reflected their own values, their own heritage or their own heroes. St. Peter was the first pope, one of the 12 apostles and the man who Catholics believe was ordained by Jesus himself. Petros is Greek for "stone" or "rock." According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said to the apostle who'd been known as Simon, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church."
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
What Power Does the Pope Really Have Now?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Catholics across the globe are speculating about who will follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who died earlier this week. Whoever becomes the new leader of the Catholic Church will instantly become perhaps the most recognizable religious leader in the world. The pope has historically been not only a spiritual leader, but somebody who plays a major role in influencing politics. Even in 2025, when fewer Americans identify as religious, the pope will still be a moral authority—but his direct political power remains more limited, experts told Newsweek. Why It Matters Pope Francis frequently spoke about political issues, taking what some may view as politically progressive views on issues like immigration and climate change and more traditionally conservative viewpoints on matters like abortion. He also went further than previous popes in voicing tolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community. His potential successors represent myriad viewpoints on some of these matters. U.S. conservatives are hoping for somebody like Cardinal Raymond Burke, who has praised President Donald Trump in the past, while some more progressive Catholics are looking to somebody like Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines due to his past comments supporting tolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community. While a pope's comments on these issues are typically more about church teachings than elections or specific policy matters, they do have the ability to shape how some voters perceive political issues. The Vatican's stance on abortion—for instance—has been particularly influential. There are an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics globally and more than 50 million in the United States. What to Know Pope's Symbolic Power The pope does not necessarily possess a great deal of "hard power," but he certainly serves as a moral authority for followers and leaders across the globe. The Vatican is also an observer to the United Nations, which lends the Pope some authority on international issues as well. Michele Dillon, professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, told Newsweek the pope has "important" symbolic power that may not translate directly into changing the majority of Catholics' minds on political issues. "Ultimately, the pope has very limited political power in terms of shifting peoples' opinions on an issue," she said, noting that while people "make up their own minds," his moral guidance is still helpful to many Catholics. Pope Francis waves to followers at the Manila Cathedral on January 16, 2015, in Manila, Philippines. Pope Francis waves to followers at the Manila Cathedral on January 16, 2015, in Manila, Philippines. LisaShe pointed to Francis' comments about gay rights in the church as something that "changed the discourse" on the issue for many Catholics. Pope Francis allowed for the blessings of same-sex union, urged parents to support their gay children, and allowed gay men to become priests if they stayed celibate. He said transgender people could be baptized but also spoke negatively about "gender ideology." A 2022 AP-NORC poll found that the majority of Catholics don't necessarily look to the church to influence how they vote. The poll of 358 Catholics found that 68 percent said the church has been influential in their life, but only 35 percent said it has influenced their political views. But when it comes to social views, 55 percent said they believe the church has been influential. Margaret Susan Thompson, professor of history and political science at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, told Newsweek that it is rare for a pope to speak out about a particular political issue, but that their teachings may provide Catholics with a context in which to think about global issues. "We see that with Pope Francis when he talked about the environment and taking care of the planet. That's had a pretty profound influence, although he didn't tell people who to vote for or particular agenda items that nations ought to adopt," she said. "But he talked about care for the planet, care for creation. So that's a political influence, but it's not somebody telling you who to vote for. I think that's an important distinction." She also noted that while former President John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president, faced questions about whether he'd have "dual loyalties," people felt that was a less important question for former President Joe Biden, who was also Catholic and said his beliefs were shaped by the church. Robert Orsi, professor of history at Northwestern University, told Newsweek there is a "certain amount of influence [that] comes with the office" and that the response to Pope Francis' death showed he was "obviously valued and loved for his witness. Still, he said it's a "question" about whether people listen to his influence on these issues. Opus Dei—Influential Catholic Group in Conservative Politics The Opus Dei group has become more influential than ever during President Trump's tenure, Gareth Gore, author of Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church, told Newsweek. Opus Dei is a Catholic group whose stated goal is to "contribute to that evangelizing mission of the Church, by fostering among Christians of all social classes a life fully consistent with their faith, in the middle of the ordinary circumstances of their lives and especially through the sanctification of their work," according to their website. However, the group has been the subject of controversy and has faced allegations of wrongdoing. Gore said the group, which he described as an "abusive cult," has been accused of "serious crimes including human trafficking and labor exploitation." "Opus Dei has spent decades seeking to infiltrate the American conservative [movement] and has poured money and resources into penetrating Washington's corridors of power—actively courting supreme court justices, senators, congresspeople and other power brokers. During the two Trump administrations, the group has become more powerful than ever before," Gore said. He noted that individuals with alleged ties to the group, such as Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, and lobbyist Leonard Leo, have "huge influence over the way that America is on." Gore noted that Pope Francis had been in a "standoff" with the group, which was set to vote on new statutes over the coming weeks. Prior to his death, the group put a hold on the new statute votes. "It is clearly hoping that the next pope will be more amenable to Opus Dei, that he will water down the reforms," Gore said. "Many suspected that Opus Dei was dragging its feet in the hope that Francis might pass before he could push through serious reform of the organization. If true, that tactic may well have worked." Pope on the Global Stage The pope, historically, has a voice on the global stage. This was demonstrated in modern history by Pope John Paul II, who was born in Poland. His 1979 visit to the country was seen as a turning point for communism in the nation over concerns about religious freedom. He became a spiritual inspiration for the anti-communist movement. While that is a direct example of recent papal influence, other popes have also weighed in on global matters in recent years. Pope Francis used his position to make calls for peace amid global turmoil and conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, or Israel and Hamas, making calls to protect civilians amid global conflicts. He called Gaza's only Catholic church daily amid the war. Peter Cajka, professor at the University of Notre Dame, told Newsweek these critiques mattered and that the pope has "direct access" to politicians and world leaders, even if he isn't diplomatically involved in changing the wars. "I'm also just struck that the violence carries on," he said. "Leaders take the critique from the pope, the critique of his moral leadership and some of his diplomatic leadership—of course, the Vatican is a diplomatic center for these things—and yet states go on and carry these things out. There's a tension there." Orsi said the Vatican, in many ways, invented diplomacy during the Middle Ages and still has a diplomatic corps who meet with world leaders who do important work "trying to nudge governments in the direction of peace." Still, they come from "outside the local context of the world of politics." "He's holding a transcendent standard that others can choose to follow or not," he said. Catholic Church's 'Institutional' Power It's not publicly known exactly how rich the Catholic Church is, as its wealth is wrapped in assets like real estate and art, but estimates suggest it's worth at least $10 to $15 billion. Cajka said this wealth has translated into institutionalization through parishes, colleges, hospitals or immigrant services. This "institutional power" still has a "major influence on politics," Cajka said. This helps the church establish leaders, college presidents and intellectual leaders. "The influential apparatus they create contests politics, but also gives them influence and access to power," he said. "If you just look at how many Catholics are in Congress or how many Catholics are on the Supreme Court, you can see how this Catholic influential structure is producing powerful people." There are 150 members of the House of Representatives who identify as Catholic, according to the Pew Research Center, and six of the nine Supreme Court justices identify as Catholic. What People Are Saying Gore told Newsweek: "The pope is the head of the Catholic Church and the direct successor to Saint Peter, the man who quite literally—according to the Bible—holds the keys to heaven. As such, he has enormous influence and authority over the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. During his papacy, Francis successfully used that authority to shift the global political agenda on important issues of social and economic justice—as well as climate change." Dilon told Newsweek: "It is important that church keep articulating what is required, what the common good if the church, as it does, has limited political influence, it is important to keep articulating what it stands for on this range of issues." Former President Barack Obama, who spoke about Pope Francis' leadership after his death in a post to X: "Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound—embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners—he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another." What Happens Next The funeral for Pope Francis has been set for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in Saint Peter's Square. The election of a new pope will take place after the funeral. The cardinals vote by secret ballot up to four times each day until a new pope is chosen. This will go on until two-thirds of the cardinals agree on a new pope. Each time a pope is not chosen, the ballots will be burned with chemicals to produce black smoke to signify that voting will continue. Once the pope is chosen, the ballots will be burned with chemicals to produce white smoke. The most recent elections have taken only a few days. Pope Francis was elected after five ballots, while it took only four ballots to elect Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
