in a Rome hospital in late February, critically ill with double pneumonia and kid- ney failure. Age 88, overweight, and


O


missing part of a lung since his youth, his prognosis was grim. As Catholics around the world prayed for his recovery, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan said: “Our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death.” In the days following, Fran-


cis began to improve, but many in the church were already looking ahead to who would be his successor. Given all the turmoil and


divisions of Francis’ pon- tificate, the chances of the next pope being a moderate, bridge-building, conservative candidate are relatively high. This would align with


the old Roman saying that a “fat pope follows a thin one,” meaning that the cardinals tend to choose a pope quite different to his predecessor. The cardinals electing the


unt .


next pope at conclave will also be looking for someone to se- riously confront the internal church problems that Fran- cis’ tumultuous pontificate — one that from a distance has seemingly been modernizing and rather benign — has inad- vertently thrown up. But for those who have


By Edward Pentin APRIL 2025 | NEWSMAX 59


n the eve of the 12th year of his pontificate, Pope Francis lay


followed his pontificate with any closeness, it was, in fact, a time of turmoil, disruption, and deep division. Elected on a mandate of re-


form, Francis set out to make the church less self-referential and more mission-oriented, closer to the faithful and the peripheries, and more rel- evant to the times. In many ways he achieved


this: Those who would never give the Catholic Church a second glance, perceiving that it would not accept them, felt accepted and welcomed. He strove to embrace Mus-


lims, people with disabilities, migrants, the poor, and the homeless, opening facilities for the latter in Rome and cre- ating a Vatican department for the poor headed by the papal almoner whom he el- evated to the rank of cardinal. Francis sought to give


women more leadership roles in the church and has been noticeably and controversial- ly eager to embrace LGBTQ+ people, forcefully speaking out against laws criminaliz- ing homosexuality, disturbing many Catholics, especially in Africa, by allowing nonlitur- gical blessings of same-sex couples, and permitting civil unions, even though previ- ous popes had firmly opposed such changes. “He’s my hero,” said the


singer Elton John in 2014, leading the way for many oth- er celebrities, politicians, and well-known figures, most of


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