With the recent passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church finds itself in the midst of a power vacuum. The apostolic throne of St. Peter sits empty as the Vatican enters the nonvendiales, or the nine days of mourning that follows the death of a pope. Once this is complete, 120 chosen cardinals will come together to vote for the next pontiff. Amid the natural intrigue that comes with a change in leadership, and fueled further by the success of the Oscar-nominated papal drama Conclave, one question dominates the public’s curiosity: Who will be the next Pope?
While there are several major contenders for the papacy, one name that consistently comes up in discussions is that of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (also known as “Asian Pope Francis”). The former Archbishop of Manila was proclaimed cardinal by Benedict XVI in 2012, making him the seventh Filipino in the history of the Catholic faith to hold the title. Of late, people weighing in on the conclave debate have noted Tagle’s sympathetic view of the LGBTQ+ community, with some labelling him “the gay internet’s favorite papal candidate.”
Not Cut and Dry
Although some hyperbole may be at play, Tagle has indeed advocated for the Catholic community to be more welcoming towards its LGBTQ+ siblings. “LGBTQ siguro minsan nandyan din ang limitasyon, nilalagyan natin ng labels, at kapag nalagyan ng labels nakakalimutan nating tao,” said Tagle at a Pasay high school youth conference in 2019.
However, while many have been quick to label Tagle as one of the “progressive” papal candidates, his personal values are not so cut and dry. Just as Pope Francis criticized the use of contraception, Tagle was a strong opponent of the 2012 Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, which promises free access to contraception and compulsory sex education classes in schools. He has also spoken against abortion, describing it as a symptom of a materialistic “throw-away culture,” echoing Pope Francis’ own pro-life stance.
The same lack of cut-and-dry-ness applies to the narratives of the other viable papal candidates. There’s Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is admired for his diplomatic, global approach as Vatican secretary of state, but who is also criticized for condemning the legalization of same-sex marriage. There’s Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah, who once sought to be a “parallel authority” to Pope Francis, but has also been an avid supporter of clerical celibacy, while also denouncing “gender ideology” and any possibility of “theological dialogue” with Islam.
An Impartial Right Hand to God
While it’s tempting to label papal contenders as “liberal,” “progressive,” “conservative,” or “traditionalist,” these terms do not necessarily apply in the search for the next pontiff.
Stripped down to its core, the role of the papacy is to serve as the spiritual compass of the Catholic Church. As the direct descendant of St. Peter, the Pope holds the unique (and sometimes unforgiving) responsibility of preserving and interpreting Christ’s teachings, while also constantly reminding people of their compassion.
In his final Easter message, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of caring for one another amid the many humanitarian crises unfolding across the globe. “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others,” he wrote.
In an ideal world, the Pope is not a politician, nor is he meant to take sides or criticize those not part of the faith: He is simply a reminder that we must keep our humanity, even in the worst of times.
However, this is not an ideal world, and there is merit in considering how the Catholic Church has never been more divided than it is now. While factions of the religion continue to hold on to stricter attitudes towards gender, cultural, and social issues, other parts of the Church strive for inclusivity and a more compassionate interpretation of the doctrine.
The conclave is shrouded in extreme secrecy, and so as the cardinals begin to make their way to the Vatican, all we can do is speculate and hope they choose wisely for the future of the Catholic faith.
