In the lead-up to next week’s conclave to elect a new pope, conservative cardinals have launched a series of criticisms against the late Pope Francis, casting a shadow over his progressive 12-year papacy. According to The Times UK, several high-ranking clergy voiced their discontent during the private general congregations, a series of pre-conclave meetings that shape the future direction of the Catholic Church.
Francis, who passed away last week and was mourned by more than 400,000 at his funeral, left behind a mixed legacy. While beloved by millions around the world, including many reform-minded Catholics, his papacy has deeply divided the Church’s leadership. In closed-door speeches, cardinals expressed concern that Francis had “bypassed long-standing traditions” in his push for reform, particularly in church governance and gender inclusion.
Among the outspoken critics was 93-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, a well-known conservative who condemned Francis’s controversial synod initiative, which he argued weakened episcopal authority by empowering lay members. More unexpectedly, Cardinal Beniamino Stella — a close ally of Francis — joined the chorus of dissent, attacking the Pope’s 2022 reform allowing any baptised Catholic, including women, to hold top Vatican posts. That policy led to the historic appointment of Sister Simona Brambilla as the head of the department overseeing all Catholic religious orders.
According to America Magazine, another Jesuit publication, a cardinal present at the meetings said Stella “openly attacked Pope Francis” and accused him of undermining church tradition. Some Vatican observers speculate that Stella’s remarks may have been a political strategy aimed at boosting the candidacy of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Francis’s secretary of state and a potential papal contender, by courting conservative support.
Meanwhile, tensions are also rising over other prominent figures. Progressive candidate Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines has come under fire for his appearance in a 2019 video singing John Lennon’s “Imagine” — despite omitting the lyric about “no religion.”
The general congregations continue ahead of the May 7 conclave, with 133 cardinals expected to vote. However, several irregularities and controversies have surfaced. Questions have emerged about the eligibility of Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo of Burkina Faso, whose birth date was amended in Vatican records to ensure he remains under the voting age limit of 80. In another incident drawing criticism, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Peru, 81, who faces sexual abuse allegations he denies, has been allowed to attend the meetings — prompting outcry from accountability groups.
