Behind the scenes at the Vatican, cardinals have reportedly been holding secret meetings to discuss who will succeed Pope Francis, long before the 88-year-old pontiff fell ill. These hushed conversations, taking place in the gilded corridors of the Vatican, are part of the intricate and often covert process of selecting the next leader of the Catholic Church.
While openly campaigning for the papacy is strictly forbidden, cardinals engage in quiet discussions and political maneuvering to influence the outcome.
John Allen, editor of Catholic news website *Crux* and an expert on papal processes, revealed that these political conversations have likely been ongoing for some time. He pointed to the example of the “St. Gallen Mafia,” a group of liberal cardinals who met in the mid-1990s to strategize the election of a progressive pope after John Paul II. Although their initial efforts were thwarted by the election of Pope Benedict XVI, they eventually succeeded with the selection of Pope Francis in 2013.
This time, Allen believes it is the conservative cardinals who are organizing behind the scenes, hoping to elect a pope who aligns with their views. While he couldn’t name specific cardinals involved in these discussions, he confirmed that such conversations have been happening for a while. One cardinal who was reportedly leading these efforts has since passed away.
The politics of the Vatican have been compared to the intrigue of a Renaissance court, with various factions vying for influence and favor. These factions often use underhanded tactics, such as leaking information about rival cardinals’ personal failings—whether financial misconduct, relationships, or other scandals—to damage their reputations and remove them from contention.
Pope Francis’ recent health scare has brought these discussions to the forefront. The pontiff was hospitalized for seven days due to a complex respiratory illness, raising concerns about his ability to continue leading the Church. While his condition has stabilized, doctors have warned that his age and pre-existing lung issues make his health precarious.
The threat of sepsis, a life-threatening condition if the infection enters his bloodstream, remains a serious concern. However, as of the latest update, there is no evidence of sepsis, and Francis is responding well to treatment.
As Catholics worldwide pray for the Pope’s recovery, the cardinals are quietly preparing for the possibility of a conclave—the formal process of electing a new pope. The stakes are high, and the political jockeying within the Vatican reflects the immense responsibility of choosing a leader for over a billion Catholics. While the process is shrouded in secrecy, one thing is clear: the conversations about the future of the papacy have been underway for some time, and they will only intensify as the situation
