Cardinals Convene Today in Vatican to Choose Next Pope as Conflicts Roil World Stage

As cardinals gather beneath Michelangelo’s Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel, the world waits—not only for the election of the next pope, but for clarity on what role the Catholic Church may play in shaping global affairs. With the 2025 conclave beginning today, a deeper unease shadows the pageantry: concerns that the expanding moral and diplomatic power of the Vatican could tilt global policy toward the interests of a single religious institution.

The death of Pope Francis on April 21 ended a papacy defined by international mediation, public advocacy on climate change, and high-profile humanitarian interventions. His involvement in brokering U.S.-Cuba diplomacy, calls for ceasefires in Africa and the Caucasus, and appeals on behalf of refugees raised the papacy’s profile beyond spiritual leadership. With no standing army or legislature, the Holy See increasingly relied on moral suasion, but its global impact was undeniable.

Now, as 133 cardinals vote on Francis’s successor, the stakes are broader than Church governance. The next pope could further institutionalize this diplomatic reach, and critics argue that such religious authority—unchecked by electorate or secular accountability—risks marginalizing pluralist values in international policy.

The Holy See holds permanent observer status at the United Nations and maintains diplomatic relations with over 180 countries. It is the only religious institution with such privileges in global governance forums. This access allows the Vatican to weigh in on treaties, global health directives, and humanitarian frameworks in ways no other faith tradition can.

Concern is growing among secular and interfaith observers. In nations with contested religious freedom, Vatican statements on sexuality, gender, and family policy are sometimes echoed in state legislation. Human rights organizations have warned that these dynamics could entrench restrictive laws under the guise of moral leadership. While the pope cannot enforce policy, his moral influence is often invoked by governments seeking legitimacy for conservative positions.

The conclave’s frontrunners reflect varying degrees of engagement with this vision. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, is known for his diplomatic pragmatism and deep entrenchment in statecraft. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a Filipino prelate and currently Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization in Rome brings an emphasis on pastoral care and the global South. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, based in Jerusalem, is noted for interreligious negotiation in one of the world’s most contested religious landscapes.

But even as their theological views differ, all are part of a Church that is increasingly seen as a global mediator between world leaders with irreconcilable differences—not just a faith community. This has led to concerns over how much space is left for secular diplomacy when the Vatican speaks with both moral and political weight.

The conclave takes place in a global environment marked by polarization, rising authoritarianism, and eroding trust in democratic institutions. In that vacuum, the pope’s voice can be powerful. But as the boundaries between moral guidance and political influence blur, questions emerge about whether that voice should have such significant weight on matters that affect believers and nonbelievers alike.

White smoke is not expected in the first rounds of voting, and the cardinals may deliberate for days. But once a new pope is elected, he will not only inherit the throne of St. Peter—but also a role that has come to straddle the fault lines between faith and politics in a divided world.

The opening of the papal conclave today is a moment of global attention, but for many Protestants, it also raises enduring questions about the role of religious authority in political life. While the world watches for white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, the deeper concern is not just who becomes the next pope—but how much influence the office continues to wield far beyond the Church itself.

For centuries, Protestants have affirmed the priesthood of all believers and cautioned against the concentration of spiritual and political power in any one figure. The pope’s growing role as a global diplomat—speaking into matters of war, climate, migration, and morality—may be welcomed by some, but others see it as a blurring of church and state, and a challenge to religious liberty and conscience.

The Protestant tradition insists that Christ alone is the head of the Church. Any human institution claiming universal moral authority must be held up to the light of Scripture. As the cardinals deliberate, it is worth remembering that true spiritual leadership is measured not by influence or diplomacy, but by faithfulness to the gospel.

In this moment, Protestants are called to watch, pray, and remain grounded in the Word of God—trusting not in princes, or prelates, but in the Lord alone (Psalm 146:3).