By Ryan Hughes, University Communications and Marketing
Pope Francis profoundly impacted the Catholic Church, his ardent supporters and people all around the world.
His death the day after Easter, at the age of 88, sets in motion weeks-long series of events 鈥� from a period of mourning to the process to select his successor. The Vatican has an intricate set of rules governing the papal transitions, a process that doesn鈥檛 unfold often, yet captivates the world.
James Cavendish, an associate professor of sociology at the 樱花视频, recently co-authored the book, Catholicism at a Crossroads: The Present and Future of America鈥檚 Largest Church. The book examines trends in American Catholics鈥� attitudes about key issues that can be partially attributed to what social scientists refer to as 鈥淭he Francis Effect.鈥�
What was your reaction to the death of Pope Francis?
James Cavendish, associate professor of sociology at 樱花视频
I was shocked when I first heard the news, especially since the public had just seen him give the Easter blessing and a public audience in St. Peter鈥檚 Square the day before, just hours before his death. We also had just seen the news coverage of his meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sunday. These events made it seem unlikely that he was so close to death. At the same time, it wasn鈥檛 completely surprising because of his declining heath and his long stay in the hospital earlier this year with double pneumonia, a condition from which he was still recovering. After these initial reactions, my response this week has been one of sadness, not only for the loss of a great spiritual leader, but also for the loss of one of the few voices of hope in our world today. Our world is currently experiencing some monumental challenges created by wars in various parts of the world, the continuing rise of nationalism and isolationism in various countries in our world, high levels of political and social polarization and an overwhelming amount of skepticism and distrust. My deep sense of sadness this week is because of the loss of that lone voice among world leaders which challenged polarizing dynamics in society. Pope Francis wasn鈥檛 afraid to speak truth to power, to remind us that economies are intended to serve people (not vice-versa), that all humans share the same ontological dignity and that those who are poor, marginalized, homeless and exploited should receive our preferential consideration.
What happens next following the death of a pope?
There have been, and will continue to be, a series of meetings, called general congregations, among the cardinals who have arrived in Rome in which they discuss what their concerns and hopes are for the church and for the world. All 252 cardinals can attend these meetings which usually take place in the morning and in the afternoon. Each cardinal will have an opportunity to speak about the challenges and opportunities they see within their respective dioceses, in the church overall and in the world. This will help them identify the types of qualities they would like to see in the next pope. After this series of meetings, which will last over several days, the cardinals who are eligible to vote for the next pope (i.e., the 135 cardinal-electors who are under the age of 80) will enter into a 鈥渃onclave,鈥� which probably won鈥檛 begin until around May 5, at the earliest. The cardinal-electors will take an oath to abide by the rules that govern papal elections, which includes a promise to maintain rigorous secrecy. From this time until the new pope is elected, the 135 cardinal-electors will be sequestered in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican for their deliberations. There will be a series of votes until the name of one cardinal receives 2/3 plus 1 vote, at which time the ballots are burnt to produce white smoke, indicating that a new pope has been elected.
What will be the enduring legacy of Pope Francis?
Pope Francis鈥� legacy is monumental because he was a holy man who cared deeply about humanity, the global community and the common home that we share with all of creation. His legacy is evident in both his teachings and in his example. In his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (meaning The Light of Faith), Pope Francis explains how the Gospel presents a message of hope and joy and underscores that the principal goals of society should be pursuit of the common good and peace through social dialogue. In his second encyclical, Laudato si鈥� (meaning Praise Be to You), Pope Francis criticizes consumerism and irresponsible economic development and highlights how these practices not only degrade the environment, our common home, but also cause increasing hardship for the poor and marginalized, who bear the brunt of negative effects of environmental destruction and global warming. Drawing on the example of the life of St. Francis, he calls on peoples around the world to examine their own habits of consumption and suggests ways to be better stewards of earth鈥檚 resources. In his third encyclical, Fratelli tutti (meaning Brothers and Sisters All), Pope Francis again draws on the example of the life of St. Francis to invite us to love our brothers and sisters without regard to geography, distance, nationality, race or religion. He laments the populist and nationalist impulses that are dividing societies, both within themselves and from one another, and are producing a type of polarization that prioritizes one side鈥檚 interest over the common good.