RMC Briefing: The conclave and election of the next Pope

Catholic cardinals are in Rome, preparing for the conclave when the next Pope is chosen. The process is familiar to millions through the film "Conclave" which tells the story of the rituals, ambition and politics involved as candidates emerge for consideration.

In this Religion Media Centre briefing, journalists and commentators joined Catholics from England and Wales to give a view on the likely candidates, the key issues they will be required to address, and the character they are looking for to take over from Pope Francis. There was some agreement that they were looking for a leader and administrator, but also a pastor and great communicator, with a passion for social justice and an ability to show the kind of servant leadership modelled by Pope Francis, giving dignity to people on the margins.

But there was a reluctance to favour one candidate over another; in fact, there was a note of caution that the outcome is very difficult to predict with unlikely candidates often coming through, and there was wide support for schemes which ask Catholics to pray for each cardinal in the conclave as they take their decision from 7 May. Ruth Peacock hosted, with speakers including:

• Catherine Pepinster, author and journalist
• Michael Kelly, Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland; and former editor of The Irish Catholic
• Richard Allen Greene, editorial lead for CNN's coverage of the last conclave in 2013
• Elena Curti, who covered the conclaves of 2005 and 2013 for The Tablet, reporting from the Vatican
• Brenden Thompson, CEO of Catholic Voices
• Julia Cocoran, presenter of 'Things I Wish I Knew' podcast, Jesuits in Britain
• Dr Mark Nash, Southwark Diocese co-director of Ongoing Formation and the Director of the Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis
• Georgia Clark, project manager 'Called to Bear Fruit'

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