Many Challenges Await the New Pope

Many of the reforms initiated by Pope Francis are not yet complete and require continuation. Additionally, the Vatican faces the challenge of a financial deficit, a significant decline in church attendance in several Western countries, as well as sensitive discussions about the role of women and the inclusion of LGBTQ Catholics.

Vatican's Financial Crisis Worried Pope Francis

The Vatican's financial crisis was one of the greatest concerns in the last months of Pope Francis's life. Three days before his hospitalization in February due to bilateral pneumonia, he ordered the establishment of a new high-level commission to raise donations for the Vatican. The Vatican urgently needs to address its budget deficit and the sustainability of its pension fund.

Although the Vatican has not published a full budget report since 2022, the last balance sheet from mid-2024 included a deficit of 83 million euros. The pension fund deficit was estimated by the Vatican to be around 631 million euros for 2022. Pope Francis initiated a series of reforms to improve transparency and efficiency, but many of these measures are incomplete or still in the implementation phase.

Will the Pope Reduce the Real Estate Empire?

The next pope will therefore face significant questions regarding the management of Vatican finances: He will also have to decide whether the Vatican should reduce its real estate empire to pay off debts. Whether the new pontiff will find a balanced relationship between financial stability and the pastoral and missionary commitments of the Holy See is currently a major question in the Vatican. It is no wonder that during the cardinals' deliberations on the profile of the new pope, potential competencies in the financial area are being closely examined.

If the papal electors are looking for someone who knows the complex bureaucratic structures of the Vatican well and could implement savings, then the Italian Secretary of State Pietro Parolin could be considered as the new Pope. The number two of the Vatican during Francis' pontificate is a favorite for the papacy. Throughout Francis' tenure, he has been pulling the strings in the Vatican. However, Parolin also led the Secretariat of State when it was involved in a huge scandal over the improper investment of more than 200 million euros in the purchase of a building in London. The Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once one of Parolin's key deputies, was later sentenced by a Vatican court to five and a half years in prison for embezzlement and fraud, an unprecedented case.

Decline in the Number of Catholics in Many European Countries

Worldwide, the Catholic Church has slightly gained members in recent years. According to the latest official statistics, there were 1.405 billion Catholics worldwide at the end of 2023, which is 1.15 percent more than at the end of 2022. The highest proportion of Catholics is on the American continent: 64.2 percent of the population in North and South America are baptized Catholics. Europe follows with 39.6 percent, Australia with 25.9 percent. In many European countries, there is currently a significant decline in baptisms and church attendance. The German Bishops' Conference reported at the beginning of the year that in 2024 only 29 new priests were ordained in Germany, a historic low.

In view of this trend, the line could prevail in the conclave that the new Pope should not come from Europe, but from Asia or Africa. In this case, the Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle would be a favorite for the papacy. The Philippines, a country with almost 115 million inhabitants, is almost 80 percent Catholic.

The new Pope will also be confronted with doctrinal issues. Francis has largely opened the Church to new discussions. A topic like the ordination of women, which was taboo for decades, was allowed to be discussed. The Argentine set up two commissions to examine the ordination of women as deacons, who serve like priests but cannot celebrate Mass. One of the commissions has not yet completed its work. Francis also allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, but only on a case-by-case basis. His measures were criticized by conservative Catholics, including some cardinals who are now demanding a change of direction.

(APA/Red)

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