95bFM Pope Francis’ legacy and what is happening next
23 April, 2025
Interview by Castor Chacko, adapted by Charlotte Lovrin
The University of Auckland's Nick Thompson discusses the legacy of Pope Francis and the process of selecting a new pope in the wake of his passing. Image: Saint Peter's Basilica (2013) - Wikimedia Commons
Pope Francis, elected as pope in 2013, has died aged 88.
His passing was announced on Easter Monday by the Vatican, with his cause of death stemming from a stroke and cardiac arrest.
During his twelve-year tenure, Pope Francis has been noted as being an outspoken advocate for poor and marginalised communities, criticising capitalism, and speaking out on the climate crisis.
Senior lecturer of Theology and Religious studies at The University of Auckland, Dr Nick Thompson, told 95bFM’s The Wire that Pope Francis’ papacy introduced a lot of firsts not seen from prior popes.
“[Pope Francis is] the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, first from outside of the Mediterranean/European part of the world more broadly. That brought with it a broader global perspective on that office.”
Thompson says the Pope's choice of new cardinals shows his more progressive stances on the church.
“His choice of new cardinals, and his attempts to reform the governance of the church, made it clear that he thought that it had to be a much more global institution; one that was not led just by European men, but where the power’s more broadly shared.”
Thompson says after the funeral, the process of selection will occur in the Sistine Chapel, with votes placed over two days by the roughly eligible 135 cardinals.
He says the cardinals will have to surrender their phones and personal devices to exclude external influences during the decision process, which usually lasts around a week.
Thompson says if the candidate selected agrees to be the pope, the cardinals will swear obedience to him, and the new pope will be presented to the people on the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica.
Although many are concerned that with a new pope, we could see a reversion towards more conservative ideologies, Thompson believes the legacy of Pope Francis and his priorities will remain consistent, regardless of who the new head of the Catholic Church is.
“I would expect the pope to still be foregrounding issues of economic inequity, the injustices of global capitalism, the injustices that face migrants and refugees, and also more broadly, calling for peace as we seem to be careening towards war.”
