READING SMOKE STACKS

Will the next pope be as progressive as Francis?

The death of Pope Francis—one of the most progressive pontiffs of all time—has raised questions about who will lead the largest and most powerful Christian denomination after his death.

• And whether that person will continue his progressive legacy.

SOME BACKGROUND: Pope Francis didn’t just lead the Catholic faith—he challenged norms both inside and outside the church.

• He called climate change a moral crisis, warned that capitalism kills, and championed compassion for migrants, the poor, and (some) LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church.

He was the first pope to call for the decriminalization of homosexuality worldwide and rebuked Trump’s fascist deportation policies.

• And, Pope Francis was an outspoken critic of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, even calling Gaza’s only Catholic church every day.

Still, Francis never changed Church doctrine on things like same-sex marriage or women in the priesthood—his approach was more tone shift than theological revolution.

• But for a 2,000-year-old institution, tone is everything.

WHY IT MATTERS: The pope’s views and actions not only shape the lives of over a billion Catholics, but also influences international politics and can sway debates on everything from war to wealth inequality.

• If the next pope reverses Francis’s more inclusive posture, it could embolden conservative factions—both inside and outside the church—and send ripple effects through politics, culture, and immigration policy.

On the flip side, a continuation—or expansion—of Francis’s agenda could help push global institutions further toward climate justice, economic reform, and human dignity.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Overnight, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis’s funeral will be held Saturday (and Trump is planning to attend).

• Within 15-20 days, the church’s College of Cardinals will meet in secret at the Vatican to elect the next pope in what’s called a conclave.

There are currently 136 cardinals eligible to vote (they have to be under the age of 80)—and Francis appointed more than 80% of them.

• That might suggest a like-minded successor—but it’s no guarantee.

Many cardinals appointed by Francis were chosen for their loyalty, not necessarily their liberal theology or progressive worldview.

• The College of Cardinals has surprised the world before—just as they did when they chose the liberal Francis to follow the conservative Benedict, or the conservative John Paul II to follow the great reformer John XXIII.

VERDICT: Not to be trite, but really only God knows. The inner workings of a conclave are opaque by design, and deals are often made behind closed doors.

• The next pope could be a continuation of Francis’s vision—or a sharp rightward turn.

Either way, the direction of the Catholic Church—and its influence on the world—is about to be decided by a handful of old men in a locked room.

GO DEEPER: How Pope Francis challenged unfettered capitalism

🗳️ Question of the day

How do you think Pope Francis will be remembered? Tell us why after you vote!

LAST WEEK: These are stressful times. On Thursday we asked, how are you taking care of yourself?

READERS WRITE: Sherry offered this advice, “Plant veggies. There are sites where you can learn container gardening on your deck. It's very important now. 🌱🤣✌️”

NJR wrote, “Friends, hobbies, singing, and meditation help, but the best is to observe not absorb.” We agree. Turn off the news sometimes, we’ll keep you up to date!

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YOU’RE FIRED?

The Defense Secretary may be losing his job

The white nationalist, serial womanizer, and former Fox News personality who is currently running the U.S. Department of Defense may soon be unemployed.

• News broke yesterday afternoon that the White House is quietly looking for a replacement for Pete Hegseth.

DRIVING THE NEWS: On Sunday, The New York Times broke the news that Hegseth shared classified war plans—again, potentially endangering U.S. troops—on a second unsecured group chat, this one with members of his own family.

• The news followed a bombshell op-ed in Politico, where a former top Pentagon official and ardent Trump supporter claimed “the last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon.”

Both of those incidents led up to NPR reporting that Trump is actively looking for a new defense secretary.

BACKGROUND: Of course, this chaos was totally predictable. Hegseth is totally unqualified for the job.

• The U.S. Department of Defense employs close to 3.4 million people with a yearly budget north of $850 million.

Hegseth has no record of managing a body even a fraction of this scale or importance.

• Beyond his service in the National Guard, he has led small nonprofit organizations and has been an on-air cable news host.

In any other administration, this man wouldn’t be anywhere near the Pentagon.

WHAT’S NEXT: While Hegseth, Vance, and others escaped any penalty for the first leak, it remains to be seen whether they’ll be as lucky this time.

• Hegseth responded himself by melting down at the White House Easter Egg roll, where he launched into a tirade against the news media for making up the story.

The White House—known for lying constantly—has called reports that Trump is going to replace Hegseth “fake news.” So… it’s probably true.

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