The Intelligence from The Economist Cardinals in: choosing the next pope
Apr 22, 2025
Join John Hooper, The Economist's Italy and Vatican correspondent, and Sarah Burke, the Bureau Chief in Mexico City, as they delve into weighty issues. They discuss the upcoming conclave to choose the next pope, exploring the ideological divides among cardinals and the challenges the new leader will face. The conversation shifts to Mexico's crisis of disappearances, revealing a grim reality exacerbated by criminal gangs. Lastly, they touch on the surprising success of the Minecraft movie, which incited rowdy audience behavior and raised questions about future video game films.
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Papal Election's Global Impact
- The next pope's election marks a crucial moment that could shift the Catholic Church's direction amidst global political challenges.
- The new pope may either continue as a counterweight to rising right-wing populism or adopt a more accommodating stance.
Challenges Facing New Pope
- Key challenges for the new pope include dealing with China, tackling clerical sex abuse, and decentralizing church authority.
- These structural issues will heavily influence who the cardinals select as pope to guide the Church's future.
Conclave Uncertainty and Factionalism
- The conclave is unpredictable, but it will test if conservatives can prevail against a college reshaped by liberal Pope Francis.
- There might be unification among conservative cardinals globally, especially on theological issues like gay unions.