VATICAN CITY (VATICAN CITY)
Santa Clara University [Santa Clara CA]
April 30, 2025
By Kimmie Johansen
With Pope Francis’ death, the Church must choose between progress and regression.
Pope Benedict XVI—the first pope in over 600 years to resign—was known for his strict adherence to conservative Catholic doctrine on social issues. Pope Francis—the next Pope—defined his papacy with firsts—first Jesuit pope, first non-European pope in 1,200 years, first pope to live outside the Apostolic Palace, first pope to take the name Francis and first pope from South America. With Pope Francis’ death and declining membership in the Catholic church, Francis’ successor must continue his legacy of humility and inclusivity to revitalize Church membership and sustain its role as a respected moral authority in the modern world.
Francis’ papacy marked a critical shift in tone for the Church, and now the Church sits at another crossroads: whether to deepen its commitment to openness, accountability and reform, or to risk retreating into outdated doctrines that alienate an evolving and diverse community. The next Pope must not only build on Francis’ legacy but also pursue more progressive reforms to address the needs of modern Catholics. The Church must continue to build trust with the public—a feat Pope Francis laid the first step for—so it can truly embody the moral leadership our world desperately needs.
Francis inherited the papacy during an intense crisis. When Francis was elected in 2013, the Church was having a public reckoning with the rampant clergy sexual abuse and institutional cover-ups. Francis then created the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, with the goal of advising himself and future Popes on how to best protect children and vulnerable adults within the Church. During his term, the Church continued to be embroiled in sexual abuse scandals. In response, Francis removed the pontifical secrecy from Canon Law—the legal system of the Catholic Church—which was used to protect sensitive information, including the identities of victims and priests accused of sexual abuse. Despite these reforms, the Church still does not require church staff to report allegations of misconduct to the police, which still allows abuse to remain hidden within Church structures and does not do enough to protect individuals from abuse.
These reforms, while symbolically important, have not gone far enough to address the clergy’s rampant sexual abuse. The Church’s reliance on internal reporting leaves too much discretion in the hands of those who have historically failed to protect the vulnerable. It is hard to reconcile the moral leadership of the Church with its long history of cover-ups and failure to protect the most vulnerable. The Church has to confront its past to maintain moral legitimacy, and Francis’ successor must take bolder steps such as requiring full cooperation with law enforcement, immediate dismissal of those engaging in abuse or covering it up, and committing to genuine transparency.
Francis laid crucial groundwork for a more progressive and accessible institution rather than continuing the legacy of his predecessor’s strict doctrinal approach. His emphasis on the merciful, loving nature of God was not just rhetorical; it was continuously demonstrated through his actions. Traditionally, on Holy Thursday, the Pope washes the feet of 12 Catholic men to symbolize Jesus washing the feet of the twelve apostles. Francis visited a juvenile prison where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 inmates, several of whom were Muslim or women, in an effort to affirm their dignity and underscore that everyone is deserving of God’s mercy.
On the topic of homosexuality, Francis famously said, “Who am I to judge?” which is a stark departure from traditional Catholic attitudes. Francis also called for a greater role for women in the Church and adjusted the Canon law in tandem. Through such acts, Francis modeled a Church rooted in compassion and inclusion, and it is essential that his successor continues this legacy.
Francis emphasized his role as a servant within the Church and redefined the image of the Papacy. Francis chose to forgo the opulence of the traditional Apostolic Palace; instead, he resided in the Vatican’s guesthouse. Typically, Popes wear red ceremonial footwear, but Francis continued to wear the same simple black shoes from his Argentinian neighborhood throughout his term. Francis’ humility continued even in his death, as he chose to be buried in his favorite church in Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, as opposed to the Vatican. The next Pope should follow in Francis’s footsteps of forgoing the traditional gaudy papal clothing to further center service at the heart of the Church’s message.
Francis redefined what it means to lead the Catholic Church, centering humility, compassion and service at the heart of its mission. As the Church faces challenges of declining membership and public trust, the next Pope must continue Francis’ work. Francis’ successor must be bold enough to continue his work but also expand on it, so the Church can maintain moral leadership and evolve to meet the needs of the modern world.