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IN Catholic Church Formally, the process of selecting the next Pope will begin this week, and everyday Catholics have given an insight into what they think the next leader should bring to the Vatican.
Fox News Digital took off to the Catholic University of America’s campus (Cua) in the capital of the state to get a pumping preferences of people on the eve of this week’s conclave.
“I’m excited about the Pope who will unite the church and I think Francis did it really well … I hope the heritage of the next pope will be similar to that,” said a Cua student named Daniel.
Catholics talk to Fox News Digital about their hope for the future pope and their departure for the heritage of Pope Francis. (Michalludwiczak/East/Getty Images Plus, Stefano Costantino/Sopa Images/Lightrocket by Getty Images), Bortonia/Digitalvision Vectors)
The conclave will begin on Wednesday after a period of mourning after the death of Pope Francis last month.
During the conclave, Cardinals vote through a secret ballot. Two -thirds are required for the elections. After each round, the application, the ballots read aloud and then burned. The ashes are used to inform the audience around the world and viewers in St. Peter on the status of choice.
On the eve of the Cardinals that are made to select the next pontiff, Catholics in the campus divided their thoughts on whether the next Pope would lean more Orthodox and more conservative, or more pastoral and liberal.
“I actually believe that the Holy Spirit guides us where the Church should be,” Father Erdman Pandero told Fox. “I do not think that it is politics in the Church or about the people whose voices are clearly heard. I always believe that the Holy Spirit is who knows who to choose.”
A Catholic student named John predicted a transition to a more pastoral nature.
“I would say, given the composition of the Faculty Cardinal, it would lean more, I suppose, pastorally, as you would say. But you never know. There are always surprises with the conclave.”
A student named Elise answered, “I really don’t know, but I hope that whoever is it, will do whatever he can to help the Catholic Church.”
In addition, Catholics combined Fox News Digital in key issues that they believe that the next Pope should address.
One student named Taylor said she wanted the new Pope to focus on the promotion of “peace” in the world. “This is probably one of their greatest things, bringing peace to the world and trying to find problems in which they can help as the leader of our faith and just see how faith can help gather people.”
“Pope Francis came out with some regulations that are not very popular among Catholics who prefer a traditional Latin Mass,” John said. “I think the next Pope should be a little more understanding where these Catholics come from and the more they love the liturgical.”
Daniel noticed how Social questions like immigration should be resolved.
“I think it is more about immigration. I think the area of immigration is in terms of what Trump’s administration does, as well as where the Pope brings in the sense, the Catholic charity organization … You remember it is the dignity of a human person.”
Pope Francis welcomes Cardinals as he unexpectedly appears during the Mass of Palm Sunday in St. Peter Square in the Vatican, April 13, 2025. (Yara Nardi/Reuters)
Fox also asked Catholics to give their views on the legacy of the late Pope.
“I think Pope Francis has left a lot of opinions on both sides,” John told Fox News Digital. “He was a man who could not be trapped in one word and it was difficult to define him, and I think it is part of what made him so big, but also what sometimes made him so confusing Catholics.”
Fox also asked more CUA students if they had a better or worse impression of the church under the Pope Francis.
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According to Frat Vincent Mary, “it certainly depends on who you ask.”
Some students noticed that their impression of the church under Francis was positive.
“I’ve never seen any bad or good things that stand out,” Taylor said. “I just think the church has grown in many different ways and I would mostly say everything positive.”
John noted that his impression of Catholicism remained the same no matter who the Pope had been over the years. It is “my religious home, and I will always be,” he said, adding, “I will always be faithful to the one who is in charge, but at the same time it does not mean that I cannot have opinions about him.”
“I think the church is going very well When he was in charge“A student named Frank said Fox Digital.” He did a lot of good things for many people, and I think whatever the Pope gets the following, he would try to embody what he did, but change him a little to be even better. “
Fox News’ Greg Norman also contributed to this report.
