Opinion Today: After Francis, what’s next for the Catholic Church?

Opinion writers examine what Pope Francis meant for the world, and what may lie ahead.

View in browser|nytimes.com April 23, 2025 By Daniel J. Wakin Deputy International Editor, Opinion The elaborate rituals have begun. So has the mourning. The death of a pope in our modern age is a media spectacle but also a deeply personal moment for many of the world's Roman Catholics, who now number some 1.3 billion. Times Opinion has looked back at what Pope Francis, who died on Monday, has meant for the world, and what may lie ahead for the Catholic Church. Frank Bruni wrestles in an essay with Francis' contradictory impulses about how to treat gay people. He was a "tender, decent man" unable to escape the bigotries of his church or generation, Bruni writes. On the other hand, the Rev. James Martin found in a guest essay that the pope's acceptance of L.G.B.T.Q. people, in line with his vision of acceptance for all, had a profound impact on the church. The discussion of Francis' legacy often focuses on how much he was able to liberalize aspects of the church — and whether that was dangerous or not. Philip Shenon takes a different view in his essay, focusing on the disappointment liberals felt when Francis did not live up to their expectations. The Times columnist Ross Douthat saw in Francis the weakening of an "imperial" papacy — with a surprising twist to his argument. Douthat also led a fascinating discussion on "The Opinions" podcast with a panel of church experts. What comes next? An essay by Austen Ivereigh, the pope's most prominent biographer, examines the possible outcome of the conclave in the coming weeks in which cardinals will elect a successor. By then, Francis will have been entombed in a small room in St. Mary Major Church — not in the grander St. Peter's, as has been typical. That signals one interpretation of the nature of Francis that most can agree on: humility. Read more: Frank Bruni Pope Francis' Gay Muddle Good Catholics were supposed to embrace gay people but not their gayness. That's hardly the arithmetic of equality. By Frank Bruni Guest Essay Pope Francis Was a Champion, if an Imperfect One, for L.G.B.T.Q. People He helped L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics feel more at home in their church. And that meant their families and friends also felt more at home. By James Martin Guest Essay What Happened to the Francis Revolution? Pope Francis proved to be far more cautious and conservative than many progressive Catholics had hoped for. By Philip Shenon Ross Douthat Francis and the End of the Imperial Papacy Papal weakness has also opened up other possibilities for Christian and Catholic witness. By Ross Douthat The Opinions After Pope Francis: A Round Table With David French Three religious thinkers on the state of Catholicism. 27 MIN LISTEN Guest Essay 'Who Among Us?' The Cardinals Now Face Their Test. Cardinals prepare to gather in Rome for the conclave to decide on Francis' successor and the direction they want the church to take. By Austen Ivereigh How Francis Changed the Symbols of a Pope's Funeral In life and death, Francis wanted the symbols of his papacy to be humbler. By Daniel J. Wakin Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks Guest Essay Gov. Josh Shapiro: Finding Moral Clarity After an Arsonist's Attack This level of violence has to stop. By Josh Shapiro More From Opinion Bret Stephens The Face-Plant President There's no better opponent than one who repeatedly trips over his shoelaces. By Bret Stephens The Ezra Klein Show The Very American Roots of Trumpism The historian Steven Hahn puts Trumpism in the context of America's long history of illiberalism. 1 HR 13 MIN LISTEN Lydia Polgreen Mexico Is Becoming a Beacon The country can take up welcoming values the United States has abandoned. By Lydia Polgreen Jamelle Bouie Trump Wants You to Think Resistance Is Futile. It Is Not. Every time we make ourselves into obstacles, we also make it a little less likely that the administration's authoritarian fantasy becomes our reality. By Jamelle Bouie Guest Essay When the Supreme Court Spoke With One Voice The federal judiciary is being forced to confront a fundamental question: what to do when its orders are defied. By Jeffrey Toobin The Alarm Over Social Media Is Getting Through to Teens Writers, parents, doctors and legal experts have been arguing that social media is bad for teens. Turns out that worked. By Jessica Grose Yara Nardi/Reuters letters The Complicated Legacy of Pope Francis Readers offer reflections after the death of Pope Francis. Also: The mistakes of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. 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