As the papal conclave prepares to convene on May 7, the Catholic Church finds itself at a crossroads, with factions vying to shape the future leadership of the institution. This period preceding the conclave is witnessing fervent activity among various groups within the global Catholic community, including many laypeople, particularly in the United States, who are seeking to influence the direction the next pope will take. The Guardian reports that this mobilisation is especially urgent among Catholics discontented with the liberal reforms introduced under Pope Francis.
Following the announcement of Pope Francis’s death, a notable mobilisation of conservative American Catholics took place swiftly. Vatican observers noted a flurry of activity including trips to Rome, outreach to cardinals, and a series of meetings aimed at discussing the direction of the church. Philip Lawler, a conservative Catholic writer critical of Francis, described the activity as more subtle than typical political lobbying but effective nonetheless. He stated, “representatives of all points of view, from across the spectrum, will be doing their best to ensure that the cardinals understand their concerns.”
Among the voices active in Rome is Francis X Maier, a Catholic writer and former adviser to Archbishop Charles Chaput, who expressed that many individuals are already convening with senior church authorities to foster an environment conducive to their preferred outcomes. For conservatives, traditionalists, and self-described “orthodox” Catholics, this conclave represents a critical opportunity to steer the church away from what they perceive as an overly liberal trajectory during Francis’s twelve-year leadership. Some advocate for a renewed emphasis on traditional Church teachings regarding sexuality, marriage, and abortion; others affiliated with political movements supportive of former President Donald Trump seek a church more openly aligned with right-wing political stances, especially on issues like immigration and environmental policy.
Among the most vocal proponents of conservative Catholic resurgence is Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist and a prominent right-wing Catholic commentator. Bannon has dubbed himself an organiser of a “show of force of traditionalists,” promising extensive media coverage in support of their cause. He has been a persistent critic of Pope Francis, accusing the pontiff of Marxism, globalism, and illegitimacy. Bannon highlighted the pope’s famous remark on gay priests in the Vatican—“Who am I to judge?”—as emblematic of what he views as a misguidedly empathetic approach inconsistent with the papal role. “You’re supposed to be judgmental. This ‘empathy’ is all phony,” Bannon said, underscoring his disapproval of what he sees as the therapeutic tenor Francis brought to the church.
The ideological tensions within American Catholicism reflect broader historical patterns. Traditionally, Catholics in the United States have comprised a diverse political constituency, often socially conservative on issues like abortion while liberal or moderate on immigration and social welfare. Yet, cultural and political shifts have increasingly aligned many Catholics with conservative causes, particularly following the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision reversal and other social developments. The Pew Research Center’s Gregory A Smith noted that while most American Catholics maintained favourable views of Pope Francis during his tenure, a widening ideological gap emerged from around 2018, with Catholic Republicans becoming less favourable compared to Catholic Democrats.
Critiques of Francis echo concerns about several aspects of his papacy, including his stance on the Latin mass, handling of clergy abuse scandals, redefinition of teachings on sexuality and marriage, and diplomatic approaches to China. Bannon, for instance, has severely criticised an agreement between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party, stating, “He’ll burn in hell just for that.” While his rhetoric is more extreme than most, many orthodox Catholics share more tempered reservations about the pope's policies and legacy.
These conservative Catholic groups also command significant influence and resources. Massimo Faggioli, a professor of religious studies at Villanova University, explained that American conservative Catholics, though a minority within the global church, wield substantial financial power and clout. They view the approaching conclave as a key front in a prolonged ideological struggle within the Catholic Church. Faggioli highlighted that the more traditionalist clergy are becoming more pronounced among new vocations, a sign of shifting dynamics within the Church’s future leadership.
Interestingly, the reaction to Pope Francis inside Catholic circles is not uniformly critical. Some conservative writers, like Sohrab Ahmari, a convert to Catholicism, defended Francis’s preaching, suggesting that it was “far more ‘trad’ than critics appreciated,” despite acknowledging the emergence of an “anti-Francis cottage industry” within the Church.
In American political terms, groups like Catholics For Catholics have emerged as vocal advocates for a conservative Catholic voice in the public square. Co-founded by John Yep, the organisation has organised prayer events at influential venues such as Mar-a-Lago and mobilised voters in key swing states during recent elections. Yep described the effort as one of advocating Catholic beliefs with politicians and reaffirming their religious identity. Data indicates a shift that may bolster conservative Catholics electorally; an Associated Press analysis showed that former President Trump increased his share of Catholic votes from 50% in 2020 to 54% in the 2024 election, with gains among both white and Latino Catholic voters.
The evolving situation has led some, such as Bannon, to predict a potential rupture between traditionalist North American Catholics and the broader Church leadership in Rome. While most observers regard such a schism as unlikely given the Church's global unity, Faggioli noted the existence of a “soft schism” characterised by differing visions for the Church’s future rather than a formal breakaway. “The real goal of [most] neo-traditionalist voices is not to break away and make their own small church,” he said. “Their project is to win back the entire Catholic church, in the long term, to what they think is real Catholicism.”
As the conclave approaches, it is clear that the Catholic Church faces a pivotal moment shaped by internal debates over doctrine, identity, and political influence, with American conservatives playing an increasingly prominent role in this historic process. The cardinals who will elect the next pope embark on their conclave with these complex pressures, recognising the significance of their decision for the future direction of the world’s largest Christian denomination.
Source: Noah Wire Services