The campaign to ensure Pope Francis's successor is a conservative

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The campaign to ensure Pope Francis's successor is a conservative: Conversations among traditionalists have been 'going on for a while' expert says - as the 'woke' Pontiff, 88, remains in critical condition

Daily Mail
By HARRY HOWARD
26 February 2025



It is a thriller about a conspiracy to rig the papal election that depicts both conservatives and progressives whispering in the corridors of the Vatican.

Conclave, an adaptation of the book of the same name by bestselling historical novelist Robert Harris, has just picked up four Bafta awards.

But now, with the real Pontiff gravely ill in hospital, attention is turning to who will be chosen to succeed 88-year-old Pope Francis I.

Since being elected 12 years ago, Francis's critics have portrayed him as a 'woke Pope' for his relatively progressive pronouncements on contentious topics, including same sex relationships and the subject of migrants.

Allies who want to ensure that Francis's successor is also a liberal will feel reassured that, of the 138 cardinals who can vote in the conclave that will take place after his death or resignation, the Argentine appointed 110 of them (80 per cent).

But experts have urged caution. The Pope's biographer, Austen Ivereigh, told The Telegraph it is 'complete nonsense' to suggest that Francis's appointments will think like him just because he chose them.

And Catholic author John Allen expressed a 'guarantee' in the Sunday Times at the weekend that conversations among traditionalists have 'been going on for a while'.

Leading Catholic commentator Catherine Pepinster added to MailOnline: 'Plotting is always part of the run up to a papal election.'

Cardinals who are considered frontrunners to replace Francis include staunch conservatives among their number.

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14437795/Pope-Francis-conservative-campaign-successor.html

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The ones that talk don't know, and the ones that know, won't talk. I said it before and i will say it again. The Cardinal that goes in as a Pope, comes back out as a Cardinal. Speculation is useless, it is up to the Holy Spirit.