Divisions behind the scenes in the Vatican

There are 128 rooms in the Santa -Tea -Tea in the Vatican. On May 7, it will be filled with cardinals involved in the conclave to choose the next pope. But one room in the boarding house is still sealed with a red ribbon, as it was after his resident died there on Easter Monday.

This suite will only be restored when a new pope will be selected. The tape remains a sensitive reminder of a person whose shoes are sought to fill – but the presence of Pope Francis appears on this conclave in many deep ways.

He spent 12 years in his role and appointed about 80% of the cardinals who would choose his successor. He also watched to radically shake the work of the Catholic Church, leaving the center of gravity from the hierarchy in the Vatican towards believers around the world and focused on poor and marginalized.

My conversations with the cardinals and those who assess the needs of the Church in the days that lead to these papal elections, almost always consider what is required through the lens of what Pope Francis did as.

Although in recent days it seems to be more clinging around the idea that the work of Francis should be built, some of its critics remain far from convinced. So, can it be enough to shake the vote when the church tries to coordinate the different views and realities that it faces around the world?

Within two weeks, followed by the Pope’s death, the Cardinals were almost daily in the Vatican, for the sake of a previously noticeable meeting known as common congregations.

While the conclave in the Sistine chapel is limited to cardinals, which have not yet reached the age of 80 (133 will participate in this), these previous meetings are open to all 252 cardinals. Each participant was given up to five minutes to get out of views, though we know that some have been more time.

It was during such a meeting on the eve of the last conclave of 2013, in a speech, which lasted less than four minutes, Pope Francis – then known as Cardinal Jorge Bergolio from Argentina – made an influence, talking about the need to contact those who are in the far Catholic world.

As a dad, he made a conscious desire to appoint cardinals from such places. That is why it is a wide variety of conclave, which if it was. Cabo -vede, Haiti, South Sudan, Tonga, Myanmar, Papua -Novoye and Rwanda will be presented for the first time.

This variety has already made its mark: as they say, the previous meetings that have taken to the fore, how different the needs of the Church look depending on where they are considered in the world.

For example, in Europe, the main examination for some may be the search for ways to intensify and introduce the current mission of the Church in the context of the Congregation, whereas in other places – in African or Asian countries – problems can rotate around social problems, poverty and conflict resolution.

Being a pope will probably become those who have at least recognized those different realities.

The official names that inherit the new Pope gives a sense of the width of the role: Bishop of Rome, Vicar Jesus Christ, the successor of the Prince of the Apostles, the Supreme Pantif Universal Church, the sovereign of the Vatican, among them.

Although some are related to deeply spiritual, the last of these names also suggests the need for a statesman, given that the Pope is the leader of the country, albeit the smallest in the world.

“Unlike your average state, the Vatican’s agenda is moving to such an extent that the Pope, which prevails at the time, makes his accent,” says Chris Trot, British Holy See ambassador. “On his face, his very tiny state (but it), which punches a lot, many times higher than his weight.

“And Pope Francis had 50 million followers on Twitter, so (this) is a very, very small condition and incredible global influence.”

Pope Francis decided to strengthen this part of the role, becoming a powerful world press on behalf of those in the fields, including the poor and the victims of the war.

He also tried to play the role of a peacemaker, though not everyone thought he was successful in this regard to China and Russia, in particular.

According to Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the oldest Catholic figure in England and Wales, this is an extension of the role – this is one of the reasons where many even on the borders of the faith fit into the results of the conclave.

“It makes sense that the Pope in the face of Pope Francis became a figure that turned to all in the world … religious people and even those who do not have religious affiliation,” he says.

“I am more and more aware that it is not only Catholics who are interested.”

For many cardinals, this is first and foremost a problem in the Catholic Church, which causes the question of the Pope’s type, which they want as the head, and the one who runs the administrative body of the church and its ministry.

While Pope Francis worked on improving how the Church is engaged in huge issues of sexual abuse and financial corruption, his successor will have to ensure uniform application of reforms throughout the Catholic world.

Even supporters of Pope Francis’ efforts make changes to how the Church treats his rank believers, and how he built bridges with those outside the faith, sometimes embarrassed as he believes that everything should work.

Pope Francis changed the tone of social issues through the comments he expressed, openly talking about subjects, ranging from climate change to financial transparency in the Vatican. But throughout his papacy, some were incomprehensible in what he meant and how it would be applied.

One of the missions was to take away part of power and decision -making from the Vatican hierarchy and in the hands of Catholics with ranks.

For almost four years, with great efforts, he ordered what was essentially a survey of many world Catholics to find out what matters to them. People were invited to participate in the most recent bishop conference, which discussed the results of the poll.

The biggest problems associated with the greater role for women in the church management and welcoming LGBT+ Catholics. But the meeting ended with some confusion, with little material steps forward and little clarity, how secular people will help manage the future direction of the church.

Thus, there is a general acute to greater clarity from the new pope.

Throughout their pontification, some vocal traditionalists opposed what they saw as Pope Francis who deviated from the teaching of the church and the old tradition.

At the previous Cardinals meetings, a number of those who are over 80 (who will not vote because of their age) took advantage of playing their role.

Most of the deposits remained secret, but the one reported was 83-year-old Italian Cardinal, Benjanin Stella. He criticized Pope Francis for “imposing his own ideas”, trying to move the church from the clergy.

And yet during the sermon, or religious speech, on the funeral of Pope Francis, what seemed to resonate the public in attendance – judging by the volume of applause – was talking about the topics that Francis decided the champion: the dignity of migrants, the end of the war and the environment.

These applause would be heard by loud and understandable rows of cardinals.

In some meanings, Pope Francis had clarity to focus on the Church is relevant to people in everyday life and, indeed, their struggle. He understood that he was connected with the world by the borders of faith.

“It makes sense that the Pope’s voice has a voice that needs,” says Cardinal Nichols. “For some people, this is a moral compass, for some people it is a sense of acceptance, for some people it is a perseverance to look at things in terms of the poorest.

“This is a voice that has died and our task is to find a person who can move it forward.”

From the death of Pope Francis, to the moment the cardinals registered in the guest house of Santa -Tero and his overflow of residences, there was a tendency to strive for the continuity of what Pope Francis had achieved.

Although, perhaps, this is a vision of continuity – this is what can bring more skeptics in a way that was pragmatic. The word “unity” spoke a lot about a lot, after a period when the divisions between fans and detainees of the Pope’s vision can sometimes become ugly.

But in the end, when they enter the Sistine Chapel, the most holy wards for voting, for all the pragmatism they may take into account before they take their newsletter, they will be called to allow God and the Holy Spirit to direct them.

Best picture: Getty Images

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