Who expected Pope Francis to serve until 2025 after his election in 2013? Born in 1936, he became a priest in 1969, later rising to Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and then elevated to the College of Cardinals three years later.
His election surprised many—not just because he was from South America, but due to his age and health. With only one lung, even he and his fellow cardinals didn’t foresee in 2013 that he would influence two-thirds of the next conclave. The belief that this is guided by the Holy Spirit is strong among Catholics.
So, who can predict the future? Maybe “hope” isn’t too far-fetched, but I really think it would be wise to consider younger candidates from the cardinals. My reasoning is simple: older cardinals may struggle to grasp the rapid pace of change and communication we’ve seen over the last decade. A successor to St. Peter needs to be aware of the urgent global crises every day. Yet, how many older individuals really grasp what has shifted between 2013 and now?
America, for instance, has witnessed the last boomer president. There’s a certain dynamic at play: it’s hard to envision a cardinal choosing someone bursting with youthful energy for such a heavy responsibility. The 133 voting cardinals might feel compelled to settle on a new Pope who can manage endless complexities.
Their sense of mission is strong, but among those 133, ambition varies widely. Trying to map this onto American politics feels almost impossible; the Catholic Church has a rich, complex history of two millennia that can’t be easily interpreted.
The Cardinal of Colleges will convene soon to elect the next Pope. Who could it be?
Any new Pope will encounter challenges far beyond those faced by previous leaders and will likely act faster than many think. Speculations abound about how quickly someone might need to respond in crises that seem to escalate almost hourly—much quicker than during the earlier six years of reform. Historical debates about figures like Pius XII linger, but no one foresaw the rise of such formidable challenges when he ascended in 1939.
Yet here we are, grappling with issues of genocide and massacre that have been occurring with alarming frequency. Even if a Pope can’t exacerbate these evils, he must confront them and support those suffering from them. The role has never been more complex or urgent.
We should all take a moment to think about the gravity of the mission before the new Pope. A prayer for those 133 cardinals may be in order as they face this monumental task.
