One group can decide about the election of the pope. “Dirty tricks”
A group of conservatives presses to ensure that the next pope is more likely to agree with their worldview – and is not afraid to use dirty tricks to discredit candidates who may interrupt this mission.
On May 7, the cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel to choose a new Holy Father, and The enemies of the deceased Pope – both from the group that will choose him and outside of it – begin to mobilize. The loud fraction, which discredited Francis as a heretic, anti -papa, and even “Antichrist” for his allegedly liberal views, waited for her chance. Now he sees the opportunity to attack.
Conservatives were angry with a more conciliatory position of Francis in the case relationships between people of the same sex and divorce, defense of migrants and the Vatican agreement with China, which gave Beijing the right to vote regarding the appointment of Catholic bishops.
– Hope is that the pontificate will be more focused on Catholic issues, such as the defense of life and family, and not on climate change and immigration – says Politico Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a German aristocrat and a nestor of Roman Conservative Catholic scene.
Some conservative influential politicians support candidates of the extreme right, such as Athanasius Schneidera bishop of Kazakhstan, who claims that refugees in Europe are a “mass invasion”, which was organized by political elites to weaken the Christian identity of Europe and leads to Islamization.
Other names that appear on conservative letters are Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, an outstanding supporter of the Latin Mass, and American Cardinal Raymond Burke, an archbishop who supported US President Donald Trump. “We observe the paradox that leadership is more liberal, but there has been a huge number of conversions and a huge increase in traditionalism,” says John Yep, general director of the Catholics for Catholics Non-Profit conservative organization. This institution organized a prayer for Trump in Mar-a-Lago, and tickets for it cost 1 thousand. hole. (PLN 3.7 thousand).
Conservative campaign
– Cardinals are aware that although some leaders may have liberal views, they know that their faithful in their homeland really incline towards more conservative views – adds Yep. – This will affect their decisions during the conclave.
According to him 56 percent Catholics voted for Trump. – The same group of people looks towards Rome and wants the Pope to be a traditional and strong ally of the United States and share our views, for example in the matter of securing borders – he says.
A campaign whose goal has become discredited Francis' reformsbegan before the pope's death on Holy Monday. Its source was well-financed, conservative Catholic non-profit organizations based in the United States. They work with the politicians of the extreme right to promote a mix of Catholic doctrine and nationalism.
One of the most famous organizations is Napa Institute. It is famous for its annual luxurious conferences in the California SPA with wine. The purpose of the organization is to combine “conservative theology and libertarian economics, with an emphasis on apologetics, sexual ethics and countercultural anti -spraying.”
Problem in the Vatican
Another organization, Sophia Institute Press, finances the traditionalist Catholic blog One Peter Five. The platform regularly criticized Francis and cooperated with the Catholic television giant EWTN, who was used to accuse the Pope of covering up the priest.
One of the projects, launched in 2018, Red Hat Report, was aimed at using former investigators of the FBI to collect Dossier for every cardinal, modeled on research on political opposition. He took into account their theological and pastoral priorities and granted assessments for the scandal related to the sexual abuse of clergy.
Cardinals during the mass before the conclave in 2013.
The main goal was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, deputy Francis and favorite to take up his position. One of the editors wrote that he should “be known all over the world as a disgrace for the Church.”
The influence of the conservative right can also benefit from Vatican's more and more difficult financial situation. According to Reuters, the Holy See recorded a deficit of EUR 83 million (PLN 355 million).
According to reports, the city-state is looking for external financing, so The choice of the next pope may depend on the rich right -wing donors from the USA – says Politico a high -ranking church official. He adds that this topic appeared during the preceding meetings, in which the cardinals participated every day for the last week.
Heavy fight
The next days, before the start of the conclave, are crucial because conservative Catholics are trying to reach their voice to cardinals entitled to vote.
– It is extremely important for the new pope to take over the reins again and confirm what Catholics believe from 2,000. years – says Yep. The representative of Catholic for Catholics describes Francis as one of the most controversial popes in the history of the modern Church.
However, even conservative groups admit that they are waiting for a hard fight. 80 percent Electors' cardinals were appointed by Franciszek. Therefore, their greatest hope may be blocking progressive candidates.
Conservatives also brake no clear leader. Cardinal George Pell, who died in 2020, was a “influential person, lobbyist and key figure,” says a well -informed Vatican ambassador. However, since Pella's death, “there is no clear group leader.”
Conservatives try everything, but given the mathematics of the conclave, they do not believe that the next pope will be someone from their group. – Not only do they not have enough votes to choose someone like Cardinal Sarah or [węgierski kardynał Peter] Erdo, but they do not even have enough votes to be a minority blocking liberals – says Benjamin Harnwell, Steve Bannon's correspondent in the War Room program. – This is non -Catholic conclave.
A well -known Italian proverb says: “A fat pope, a thin pope”, which means that the conclave tends to balance the previous one by ideological change.
Cardinals in the Basilica of St. Piotr in the Vatican, April 30, 2025.
Intimidation tactics
One of the things that have changed since the last conclave in 2013 is digitization.
Along with spreading conservative blogs and influencers in social media This year's campaign “does not resemble anything I have seen before,” says Stephen Schneck, former director of the Institute of Political Research and Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America. – An avalanche of analyzes, opinions and actual activities of campaigns conducted by external groups and influencers is underway – adds the expert, suggesting that its immediateity and range can be of great importance.
The favorites are worried about what can happen. The LifeSitenews right -wing website has published a film in which Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the most likely successors of Francis, sings the song of John Lennon “Imagine”. Critics say words such as “Imagine there's no heaven” [Wyobraź sobie, że nie ma nieba] They are “surrender before atheism.”
– They know that they do not have enough votes, so their goal is to intimidate the reformers – says Marco Politi, an experienced Vatican observer and journalist. – The message is: “You can't choose Francis II. It's a psychological game.”
However, when the cardinals are in the Sistine chapel, they will be cut off from external influences.
– It is difficult to say what will happen in this boiler room – says the Vatican ambassador. – The best prepared plans do not always work in reality. This group of cardinals never had the opportunity to meet. They still check their forces to see what people they are dealing with.
