(RNS) — Clergy sexual abuse. Women’s roles in the church. Adherence to Scripture and tradition. When we asked RNS readers who follow us on social media to name the concerns they want a new pontiff to focus on, the answers were familiar to anyone who followed the controversies of Pope Francis’ pontificate.
Some were critical of Francis’ handling of these issues or said they’d lost hope in the church as an institution, with more than one reader suggesting leaders simply dissolve it and “focus on teaching the people the actual Word of God.”
But when we asked readers what they were looking for in a new pope, most expressed admiration for Francis and hoped for a figure like him. “Same as before! A humble, non-judgmental leader!” wrote a reader who goes by Jack OB, whose vote would go to Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle of the Philippines.
Some readers wanted a pontiff who would stand up to authoritarians, while others wanted to continue Francis’ appeal to those outside of Catholicism. Citing Francis’ dedication to inclusiveness, reader José Cintron said he wanted a new pope to have Francis’ ability to appeal to “non-Catholics and non-Christians, billions of people with whom we share a planet.”
But the majority who took the time to answer hoped for a pope who would be as progressive as Francis, or more so: “I hope the next pope is younger than Pope Francis was when he became pope,” wrote reader Theresa Maccarone, “more progressive on women in ministry and less tolerant of the United States bishops.”
Here is a selection from the dozens of views readers offered online:
What do you want in the next pope?
“Someone who will follow in the footsteps of Francis, with the same intelligence, humility and conviction. Someone from the global south, whether Asia or Africa or South America. Most Catholics live in the southern hemisphere and deserve to be well-represented by the bishop of Rome.” — Kermit Gould
“Strong where Sacred Scripture & Tradition speak strongly, gracious & merciful where they speak thusly. Listens to those inside & outside the Faith so he can wisely relate God’s Word to them. And when Scripture seems to conflict with Tradition, not be afraid to prioritize S > T.” — Cedric Marc Klein
“We need a Witness. We desperately need credibility that we actually believe the Gospel above all else” — Dennis Francis.
“The spirit of Francis and Vatican II.” — Anne-Marie Cottone
“Anti-fascism is the must-have. No more ex-nazi or nazi-sympathizer popes. Continuing Francis’ trend of caring more about sins of greed and wrath and less about sins of lust is at the top of my wish-list. Probably impossible but would be nice: finally clean up the Vatican bank.” — @infamousbrad.bsky.social
“Not white.” — @collingwest.bsky.social
“I want a liberation theologian” — @sheologian.bsky.social
“Pope Francis energy! All the good, inclusive, compassionate parts. The energy that recognizes oppressive systems and calls them out.” — @storyheadjill.bsky.social
“A #PeoplesPope who goes even further than #PopeFrancis did in making #Christianity a haven for ALL.” —@lmc55g95.bsky.social
“My top 10 in no particular order: Inclusivity. Emphasize those on the margins. Local language. Mercy. Welcoming atmosphere. Return to sources a la Vatican 2. Recognition of the wider world. Welcome catholics lost to divorce. Better homily communication. No politics from altar.” — @kbark.bsky.social
“a guy who humbly names himself and carries on as Pope Francis II. cannot handle anything too new or different right now.” — @barbarakb
“He needs to be pastoral.” — @peoplelover67
“A continuation of Francis with a focus on pastoral care, the environment, workers, the left behind (including migrants, who will only increase in the future). Nearly half the world lives in poverty.” — @willtaylor9317
“One like Pope Francis!” – Guy Griffith
What issues do you want the next pope to focus on? How do you hope he will shape the Catholic Church and the world?
“Report any and all abuse to the proper authorities. The days of shuffling pedophile priests around from one parish to another are over.” — David Flynn
“Oppose genocide and ecocide – Free Palestine” — Becca Clark Siever
“The environment and our relationship to it as part of creation. Being our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper in empathy and in loving action. Scriptural and historical value of diverse forms of family and multi-generational/communal living vs hyper-independence.” — Jessica White
“Ecumenism, especially the Bishops and Priests. Greater and broader inclusion for women and Social Justice teachings, the 7 pillars of Social Justice. Speaking out against the unchristian acts of our President and his allies.” — Sheila Kelly
“I pray our next Pope embraces and expands on Pope Francis’ resolute passion and dedication to the Beatitudes — and further elevates compassion in action and servitude as currently modeled to the hungry and persecuted by @chefjoseandres 🙏” — @jmhaigh
“Compassion. Someone who is close to the people and understands the realities they come from.” — Greg Evers Cpps
“Someone like Pope Francis who reflects Jesus in all that he does.” — Sharon Siejak Voigt
“Open the Vatican vaults. The church is sitting on a vast stash of world history, that belongs to everyone. Liquidate all church holdings, distribute the wealth and convert cathedrals into homeless shelters. It’s what Jesus would have wanted.” — David Flynn
“I hope for someone to carry out the good work begun with Francis. Someone who may consider ordaining women deacons.” — Anne-Marie Cottone
“I want someone who understands that we are all sinners loved equally by a merciful God, and that we must go out to the people at margins because whatsoever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do to Jesus.” — @rorywrites.bsky.social
“Make a serious effort (finally) to get remove pedophile priests, and quit moving them around and paying a small fortune to settle lawsuits. Bizarre that I’m even having to mention this in 2025. The church is so hypocritical on this issue.” — @dctblackwell.bsky.social
“How about one who does justice, loves kindness, and walks humbly with God? That’d be a good starting place.” — @electric-poet.bsky.social
“Given the current dominance of Trump’s worldview which celebrates cruelty, greed, violence, and dishonesty, we need a pope who will insist at every turn (like Francis) on the inherent and inviolable dignity of all persons especially the immigrant/refugee, and those marginalized by poverty or disability or sexual/gender identity. This is a terrible time for the world and the next pope will need to be a vocal and strong public voice for truth and goodness.” — Karen E. Park
“The same: poverty, immigration, environment and inclusion” – @chrisness93
“… though I am not Catholic, I want to see a man of strong doctrine and tradition take over, someone even stronger on the issues of doctrine and morality that Benedict XVI.” – Jonathan Talbot
This story has been updated with new responses from social media.