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The Catholic Church The process of the next Pope will officially begin, and everyday Catholics gave an insight into what the next leader should bring for the Vatican.
Fox News Digital went to Catholic University of America (CUA) campus in the country’s capital in order to get a pulse for people’s papal preferences before the conclusion of this week.
“I am looking forward to a Pope who will unite the church, and I think Francis did really well … I hope that the next Pope’s legacy will also be similar,” a Cua student named Daniel told The Outlet.
Cardinal Dolan gives Inside Look to Conconave, the role of the Holy Spirit when choosing a new Pope
With Fox News Digital, Catholics talk about their hopes for the future Pope and their snack bars to the legacy of the Pope Francis. (Michalludwiczak/iStock/Getty Images Plus, Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/Light rocket via Getty Images), Bortonia/DigitalVision vectors)))
The conclave is scheduled to begin on Wednesday after a mourning period after the death of Pope Francis last month.
During the conclave, Cardinals coordinate through a secret ballot. A two -thirds majority is required for the choice. After each setting round, the ballot papers are read out loud and then burned. The ashes are used to notify the audience all over the world and the spectators on the St. Peter Square about the status of the election.
In front of the cardinals that selected the next Pope, the Catholics on the campus shared their thoughts on whether the next Pope Orthodox and conservative or pastoral and liberal inclination would be more.
“I actually believe that the Holy Spirit leads us where the church needs us,” Father Erdman Pandero told Fox. “I don’t think it is about politics in the church or that people whose voices are clearly heard. I always believe that it is the Holy Spirit who knows who to choose.”
A Catholic student named John predicted a shift into a more pastoral nature.
“I would say given the composition of the College of Cardinale, as you would say, it would lean more, but you never know. There are always surprises with the conclave.”
A student named Elise replied: “I really don’t know, but I just hope whoever it is, he does everything to help the Catholic Church.”
In addition, the Catholics Fox News digitally have defined the most important topics that they believe that the next Pope should be approaching.
A student named Taylor said she wanted the new Pope to focus on promoting “peace” in the world. “It is probably one of her greatest things that peace brings into the world and tries to find problems that you can help as a leader of our faith and only see how faith can help to bring people together.”
“Pope Francis has published some regulations that are not very popular with Catholics who prefer the traditional Latin mass,” noted John. “I think the next Pope should understand a little more where these Catholics come from and what they prefer.”
Daniel noticed how Social problems like immigration should be addressed.
“I think more about immigration. I think the area of immigration in relation to what the Trump government does and where the Pope brings in relation to the Catholic charity with regard to Catholic charity. They remember that it is about the dignity of the human person.”
Pope Francis welcomes Cardinals when he appears unexpectedly on April 13, 2025 during the Palm Sunday mass at Saint Peter’s Square. (Yara Nardi/Reuters)
Fox also asked the Catholics to give their views to the inheritance of the late Pope.
“I think Pope Francis left many opinions on both sides,” John told Fox News Digital. “He was a man who could not be captured in a word and was difficult to define, and I think that is part of what made him so great, but also what made him so confusing for Catholics.”
Fox also asked several CUA students whether they had a better or worse impression of the church under Pope Francis.
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According to Friar Vincent Mary, “it will certainly depend on who you ask.”
Some of the students found that their impression of the church under Francis was positive.
“I’ve never seen bad things or good things that notice,” said Taylor. “I just think that the church has grown in many different ways and I would usually all say positively.”
John noticed how his impression of Catholicism has remained the same, no matter who Pope has been over the years. It is “my religious home, and it is where I will always be,” he said, adding: “I will always be loyal to the person responsible, but at the same time it doesn’t mean that I cannot have any opinions about him either.”
“I think the church was doing very well When he was responsible“A student named Frank said to Fox Digital.” He has done many good things for many people, and I think which Pope we get next should try to embody what he did, but change it a little to do it even better. “
Greg Norman from Fox News also contributed to this report.
