The cardinal who heads to Rome next week to elect the next pope sometimes looks as polarized as many secular voters around the world.
At first glance, they appear to be split along the left and right lines characterized by political competition elsewhere. Many conservative Roman Catholic church leaders disagree with Pope Francis, who is often the darling of liberals around the world.
But the typical division between progressives and conservatives is not as neatly versus ideological struggles within the Vatican and the wider church. Despite some exceptions among the Cardinals, the question of Francis was consistently labeled as a liberal—his fierce advocacy for immigrants and the poor—does not necessarily set him apart, as the Catholic Church made the call of the gospel and the call of the gospel a fundamental purpose.
Ultimately, the Cardinal’s choice will constitute a referendum on whether to expand Francis’ legacy of inclusive and open change. That's how he lives meaningfully in a highly polarized era, says Anna Rowlands, a political theologian at Durham University in England.
Professor Rolands said Francis understood the “danger of polarization” and he was willing to accept differences as a pioneer of dialogue. “The danger is that the church moves to a moment where the pole might be chosen,” she said, which could end the discussion altogether.
Besides any one question, the next pope’s choice will be dominated by a philosophical question: Who should speak out when determining the future of Catholicism?
decision making
Francis often argues that regular practice Catholics (including women and LGBTQ people) should be consulted about the direction of the church. He invited laymen to sit with the bishop at the Vatican meeting to discuss controversial issues.
He opposed more conservative leaders who might be eager to return to centralized decision-making. “I think the dialogue will have to follow the topic of ‘Can we get rid of it?’,” said Miriam Duignan, executive director of the Cambridge Catholic Institute in England.
Another key divide is those who believe that the church should welcome all – including those who do not conform to traditional church teachings, and those who believe that only those who commit to firm Catholic teachings can be accepted as folded by the church.
“It is sometimes a large vision of the church,” said Rev. Pastor Agbonkhianmeghe E. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Rev. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Rev. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Rev. Agbonkhianmeghe E. said. “It’s very different when you think the church is a perfect society or a closed society where doctrinal allegiance or orthodoxy defines membership.”
Women in church
Two years ago, Francis first allowed women to vote in the bishop’s important meeting. Finally, he made a decision on whether he could be appointed as a deacon who could preach and preside over weddings, funerals and baptisms.
Francis made it clear that he wanted to allow women to have more choices than “the president of an altar girl or charity,” but rejected the notion that they needed to participate in the church hierarchy. In many places where there is a shortage of pastors, women are increasingly serving their fellow countrymen.
Conservatives say allowing women to become deacons will create a way for them to eventually become priests. They believe that doing so would violate 200,000 years of church doctrine, although some experts are saying historical evidence that women served as deacons in the early church.
Even if women’s rule among cardinals remains controversial, it is difficult to completely kill the debate due to the pressure from female Catholic activists.
Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, the Archbishop of Tokyo, said in an interview last month that he saw “there is nothing wrong with appointing women as deacons.” But he said: “There are still many problems that need to be overcome.”
Married pastor
The church lacks pastors in many countries. In 2019, the Roman Catholic Bishop's summit recommended that Francis allow married men to serve as pastors in the remote Amazon region, where the shortage is particularly severe.
A year later, Francis said he needed more time to consider the landmark proposal, believing the church is not ready to lift its approximately 1,000-year-old limit and require the pastor to be a single man. Many of his hopes that he will become a supporter of the Pope of fundamental change.
divorce
Regarding the issue of divorce and remarriage of Catholics, Francis urged pastors not to treat them like they were in the Paria and welcomed them with a “door open.”
Francis debates over whether to allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the communion even if their previous marriages were abolished by the church court. But in the end, he quit any changes in church law, only encouraging pastors to welcome divorce and remarriage of Catholics.
“People who started a new alliance after defeating the sacramental marriage were not deported at all and they must not be treated in this way,” said Francis. “Although their unions go against the sacrament of marriage, the church, as a mother, seeks the kindness and redemption of all her children.”
Sexual orientation
Pope Francis brings a new era to LGBTQ Catholics when he allows pastors to bless same-sex couples in 2023. He made it clear that marriage was reserved for the relationship between women and men, but his changes still aroused the anger of conservatives, especially in Africa and North America.
In Africa and other areas where homosexuality is a crime, Francis explicitly condemned the criminal conviction, but allowed bishops in Africa to forbid pastors from blessing same-sex couples because it was dangerous to them if they were eliminated. In a culture that stigmatizes homosexual relationships, clergy will receive “long-term pastoral reflection” to accept what Francis has always believed that the new path does not contradict the church’s doctrine.
Sexual abuse
Some in the church hierarchy may want to declare a crisis of sexual abuse for Catholic priests. But abuse survivors and activists warn that there is not enough change in practice and mentality in local parishes to prevent future cases or resolve the pain of existing cases.
A statement from the Vatican Media Office said the Cardinals are discussing sexual abuse in the church, a “wound” that is to be “open” so awareness of the problem remains and specific paths to their recovery can be determined. ”
The greatest revelation is concentrated in the United States, Australia and Europe. But in most parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America, “not a lot has appeared yet, so this will continue to rumble.”
Global South
The biggest areas of growth in the Catholic Church are in Africa and Asia. The Cardinal who chooses the next pope is definitely discussing whether to choose someone from one of the areas. Regardless of the person they choose, they need to consider the spread of culture and traditions among new followers and the spread of spiritual heritage. Some people may have different expectations about what faith plays in life and how to adapt to its rules.
Whether the new pope comes from these regions or not, he must be a man who is prepared to have injustice in the relationship between the global north and the global south in international politics,” said Nora Kofognotera nontertera, the theological ethicist of Kwame nkrumah science and technology scientist. “The pope cannot escape in the 21st century. ”
When the church recruits new followers, it also needs to find a way to talk to the youngest members. “Young people are no longer interested in taking commands and handling commands,” Dr. Nonterah said. “They want to ask questions, they want to be asked questions.”
