For an institution long steeped in tradition and conservatism, the papacy of Pope Francis was nothing short of a revolution.

In his twelve years, the late pontiff dismantled several long-held traditional notions and breathed new life into a Church often accused of being estranged from the cries of today’s faithful, making it one that is closer to marginalized communities. His support for the blessing of same-sex couples, his advocacy for the poor, his call for the protection of the environment, and his emphasis on a Church that listens and serves — these were radical shifts for an institution traditionally averse to such change.

Now, with the passing of the beloved “People’s Pope,” the Church stands at a defining crossroads: who will carry the torch? Though the conclave on May 7 remains cloaked in secrecy, one truth resounds with clarity — the next pope must not retreat into the past.

The world needs a shepherd who walks forward with conviction in an ever-changing world, embraces the faithful with compassion, and dares to continue the bold path Francis began.

Solace for the Struggling: Cardinal ‘Ambo’ David

Moving forward to the 267th head of the Roman Curia, Francis has shown that the papacy is not a position of grandeur, but he who holds it is a comforting figure for those whose lives have been stranded in conflicts and those who have been oppressed and excluded.

Even in his last gesture as the pope, Francis made it clear whom his papacy was for — and it was for the struggling.

“I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear, which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger, and to encourage initiatives that promote development,” he said in his “Urbi et Orbi” (from the city to the world) blessing, his final appearance before passing on April 20, Easter Sunday.

While questions as to who can pursue Francis’ care for the vulnerable, with names out of the “papabiles” (possible papal candidates as deemed by the public) resonating there and then, a cardinal from the other side of the Vatican in the globe stands still, in humility, but bearing the continued mission to be with the people — Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” Cardinal David.

Elevated to the ranks of the princes of the Church on December 8, 2024, David is among the newest cardinal-electors in the May conclave. 

Known as a staunch critic of then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, David was vilified by the administration with cases filed on July 19, 2019, against him for sedition, which was eventually scrapped by the Department of Justice.

“It has been heartbreaking meeting with the widows, orphans, and families of the victims of the war against drugs,” David said. In parallel, the cardinal-then-bishop has organized in his diocese in Kalookan a community-based drug rehabilitation program, believing that those who have been addicted to drugs are merely victims and do not deserve to be killed.

The Guagua, Pampanga-born cardinal has also been vocal about other imminent issues in the Philippines, decrying red-tagging, advocating for dissent, and standing up against wars, saying that “they do not benefit anyone except the big-time weapons producers and dealers.”

As a mirror to the late pope, the likes of Cardinal David show that when the world falls down to the pits of injustice, the Church stands not merely just as hope, but as a solace and support that will stand up for the faithful in the face of their continued struggles.

A Voice for the Earth: Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich

Laudato Si’ — an encyclical among many written by Pope Francis — stands as a profound call to awaken humanity to its moral responsibility in the face of an environmental crisis. Unlike any papal encyclical, apostolic exhortation, or open letter before it, Laudato Si’ transcends religious boundaries, addressing all of humanity with a bold, unified plea to protect its shared home.

The effort invested in crafting such an encyclical reveals the depth of the late pope’s care, not only for the people but also for the God-given home entrusted to humanity’s stewardship.

As the Earth buckles under the weight of mankind’s destructive actions, the question is no longer “if” but “who”  will rise to carry forward the cause ignited by Francis. One who embodies the same fierce dedication and unyielding courage required to confront the crisis head-on. 

In this critical time, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich emerges as a leading figure, a prominent advocate for environmental stewardship within the Catholic Church. As the Archbishop of Luxembourg and a member of the Global Catholic Climate Movement Advisory Council, he has been outspoken on the importance of supporting causes that protect the planet.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, as the global “Fridays for Future” climate strikes led by youth environment advocates gained momentum, Cardinal Hollerich affirmed that the Catholic Church “stands with the youth” participating in the movement.  

“We see a generation which takes responsibility for their future, and I think as a Church we have to support these generous young people. We are on your side. We want you to be happy in our common home, which would be your home,” he said in a video.

He continued, “He has given us a garden to live in, and in worldwide fraternity, we have to inhabit this world with a joyful heart and preserve it for the next generations.”

However, even before rallying the youth and the broader Church to champion environmental advocacy, Cardinal Hollerich voiced a deeper concern in a 2019 interview with America magazine: the urgent need for an “ecological conversion” — one that begins with Church leaders themselves.

“We bishops have to change our lifestyle, and if we older people succeed in doing it, then the younger ones can do it too,” the cardinal said. “But if I cannot change my own lifestyle, how can I say to young people to do so?”

To embody this, he cited simple yet intentional lifestyle changes, such as avoiding plastic bottles, trading in his diesel car for a hybrid, and choosing fair-trade coffee.

In the same interview, Hollerich called out the unchecked exploitation of both people and the planet by corporations that “only look for profit at whatever cost” — a bold remark that cuts through the silence that has long surrounded economic systems fueling environmental degradation.

Consistent with his stand, Cardinal Hollerich — then-president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) — wrote to European institutions in September 2021 on behalf of the European Laudato Si’ Alliance, urging them to turn Pope Francis’ encyclical into bold, actionable policy.  He demanded decisive steps such as halting new fossil fuel infrastructure and updating national climate targets.

In a time when indifference can be easier than action, voices like Cardinal Hollerich remind the world that caring for creation is not a choice heavy with burden — it is a moral imperative.

As the world searches for the next shepherd to guide the Catholic Church, Hollerich’s commitment to ecological justice marks him as a torchbearer of Francis’ vision. In the spirit of Laudato Si’, he stands not merely as a successor to the late pope’s message, but as a living extension of his call.

A Torch of Empowerment: Cardinal Joseph Tobin

Pope Francis attempted to confront the long-buried scandal of clergy sexual abuse with decisive action, expelling Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2019 — the first cardinal to be defrocked for abuse. Additionally, he convened a landmark summit on sexual abuse, establishing new reporting protocols to ensure accountability.

Blazing with the same advocacy, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin emerges as a beacon of progressive values within the Catholic Church, as embodied by his commitment to the inclusion of women and his proactive stance in addressing clergy sexual abuse.

A cornerstone of Cardinal Tobin’s transformative leadership lies in his dedication to uplifting women within the Church.

During his tenure at the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin played a pivotal role in alleviating the tensions inflicted by the Vatican’s 2009-2012 investigation into U.S. women religious, known as the “Visitation,” which was perceived by many nuns as punitive and intrusive.

As the secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, Cardinal Tobin worked closely with U.S. women religious leaders to shift the tone from confrontation to reconciliation.

This came into flesh in his public advocacy for a “strategy of reconciliation” that deviated from doctrinal criticism and instead championed inclusive dialogue, mutual respect, and trust.

His intervention helped defuse the strain in the Vatican’s relationship with American nuns by facilitating more open communication between the two. This was manifested during the 2015 agreement between the Vatican and the LCWR, which marked a turning point in the relationship, with women religious feeling that their voices were finally being heard.

In addition to his work with religious women, Tobin has been a vocal advocate for expanding women’s roles throughout the Church.

In a 2017 interview with America Magazine: The Jesuit Review, he acknowledged the obstacles faced by women excluded from the priesthood — offering the compelling assertion that no theological barrier prevents women from ascending to the rank of a cardinal.

This advocacy of his transcends theory. He has called for seminarians to form relationships based on mutual respect and healthy collaboration with women, directly challenging the entrenched clericalism that has long hindered the Church’s progress.

Cardinal Tobin has consistently reiterated that women are not mere auxiliaries to the Church’s work but are vital to its very existence and spiritual fulfillment.

“I can’t imagine a diocese that would want to minister in the fullness of the Church’s mission without having the voice of women,” he remarked. 

Tobin challenges the Church to do more than simply acknowledge women; he implores the Church to “see” them—truly, deeply, and without reservation. As he puts it, “The first sin is to not see them.” 

His call for women to “speak the truth to power” reflects a moral clarity that urges the Church to embrace complexity and shed its complacency. 

As the Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin took significant action in addressing the clergy sexual abuse crisis, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and justice.

In a letter to the faithful on February 13, 2019, he expressed the deep sorrow and outrage felt across the Catholic community in response to the revelations of abuse, stating, “The failure of Church leadership to immediately remove suspected abusers from ministry is particularly reprehensible.” 

Cardinal Tobin took a firm stand by publishing the names of diocesan clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors, following an extensive review of Archdiocesan records dating back to 1940.

His bold move reaffirmed the Archdiocese of Newark’s zero-tolerance policy for such abuse, underscoring his resolve to ensure that no accused clergy remained in ministry.

Cardinal Tobin’s commitment to both empowering women and advocating for abuse survivors marks him as a transformative leader, one who envisions a Church grounded in justice, dignity, and healing for all.

Choose Progress or Choose Decline

At every Conclave in its 2,000-year history, the Catholic Church has stood at a crossroads: to evolve in fidelity to Christ’s radical message or to stagnate in irrelevance by clinging to hollow legalism.

The world does not need a Pope preoccupied with preserving walls, doctrines, and traditions. It needs a Pope who embraces the radical inclusion exemplified by Christ, who boldly addresses environmental crises, and who demands accountability within the Church is essential for the survival of its moral authority.

The Catholic Church must no longer be a sanctuary for exclusion, secrecy, and corruption. Instead, it must become a haven of mercy, justice, and truth, aligned with the Gospel’s core message. 

This is the challenge of the next Pope: to lead the faithful with integrity, confront the injustices of the past, and lead the Church into a future where compassion and righteousness reign. 

The time for reform is now. The world is watching—and the faithful are waiting for a leader who will lead them into a more inclusive, transparent, and just Church, rooted in the radical love that Christ embodied.