Pope Francis's Funeral to Take Place Saturday, Conclave Preparations Begin
The Spin
Progressive narrative
With the passing of Pope Francis, the Church stands at a crossroads — it must reject a lurch to the right. Electing another progressive leader such Luis Tagle or a moderate candidate such as Pietro Parolin would honor Francis’s legacy of compassion, reform, and global inclusion. A focus on justice, the poor, and marginalized communities offers hope for a Church that leads with humility, relevance, and heart in the 21st century.
Conservative narrative
The next Pope shouldn’t be another liberal reformer, but instead a conservative restorer like Péter Erdő. Francis’s progressive turn left the Church fractured, unclear in doctrine, and diminished in influence. What Catholicism needs now is not more novelty, but stability through someone who cherishes tradition, speaks with moral clarity, and rebuilds trust in the timeless truths the Church once boldly proclaimed.
