The Vatican prepares for the conclave without a clear successor for Pope Francis

The cardinals of the Catholic Church concluded their pre-conclave meetings on Tuesday, still without a clear favorite to succeed Pope Francis.  The meetings focused on defining the ideal profile of the next pontiff, someone capable of guiding an institution hit by scandals and in need of reconnecting with new generations.

The 133 cardinals with voting rights, from 70 countries, agreed that the next pope should be more than a conservative or progressive figure. In the words of Cardinal William Seng Chye Goh, Archbishop of Singapore,  "we need a superman!"

A conclave marked by internal and external challenges

The Church faces a combination of crises ranging from sexual abuse to dysfunctional bureaucracy in the Vatican. Added to this is the loss of followers in Europe, the financial difficulties of the Holy See, and the growing global secularization.

Although Francis appointed the majority of the electors —108 of the 133—, the pre-conclave atmosphere revealed that many of them barely knew each other, which made it difficult to build clear consensuses.

On Tuesday, the cardinals held their last general congregation. As part of the transition rites, the fisherman's ring and Francis's papal seal were destroyed, symbolically sealing the end of his pontificate.

This Wednesday afternoon, the cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the electoral process. Amid the singing of the Litany of the Saints, they will swear absolute secrecy and listen to an initial meditation. Then, they will cast the first vote.

If no candidate reaches the necessary 89 votes (two-thirds), up to four votes will be held daily —two in the morning and two in the afternoon— until a new pope emerges.

The next pope and the new global face of the Church

Beyond the election, several prelates raised geopolitical concerns. The Church is growing in Asia and Africa, both in the number of followers and religious vocations, while Europe faces the emptying of temples and the massive renunciation of believers.

The Filipino Reverend Robert Reyes reminded that Asia  "is ripe for evangelization and the harvest of vocations." Therefore, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been mentioned as a  possible first Asian pope.

The voice of Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Mumbai, also rose, emphasizing that  "the world's center of gravity is shifting toward Asia." For him, a more Asian Church would be a key spiritual and cultural contribution.

Although Gracias did not participate due to having surpassed the age limit, India has four voting cardinals and Asia has a total of 23 electors, constituting the second largest block, behind Europe, which has 53 (probably 52, due to a medical absence).

One of the most complex issues on the horizon for the next pope will be the relationship with China.The agreement signed in 2018 between the Vatican and Beijing on the appointment of bishops caused criticism from conservative sectors, who saw it as a concession to the communist regime.

Although the Holy See defended the pact as "the best possible," it remains to be seen if the new pontiff will maintain that policy. The future of about 12 million Chinese Catholics could depend on that decision.

With the conclave about to begin, the Catholic world awaits a leader who knows how to unite tradition and modernity, facing an increasingly demanding reality.