The College of Cardinals, made up of members from across the globe, will meet to elect a new pontiff in what is known as the Papal Conclave. “We continue to mourn for Pope Francis, but we look forward now to what God has next,” Archbishop Richard Henning said at a press conference before the service. “We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide [the cardinals’] deliberations and that they will elect a new pope for us who will continue the mission of the Church through the work of Jesus Christ.” BRAINTREE — As Catholics around the world await the start of the papal conclave Wednesday to select a successor to the late Pope Francis, dozens gathered for Mass on Tuesday morning at the Archdiocese of Boston’s pastoral center to reflect on Francis’ legacy and the future of the Church.
Advertisement Francis, who died the day after Easter Sunday at age 88, was known as a champion of the poor and the environment. Over his 13 years as pope, he also drew criticism from conservative Catholics for frequently commenting on international politics, and opening up the church to marginalized Catholics, such as the LGBTQ+ community. Henning, reflecting on what qualities the next pope should embody, said he hoped for “a man who’s authentic, who loves Jesus Christ, who lives by His word.” When asked how the next pope might bridge the gap between liberal and conservative Catholics, Henning acknowledged that tensions exist, but said it wasn’t necessarily bad.
“Pope Francis often provoked responses because he wanted to provoke us — to get us to think, to see each other in a different way,” he said. “Sometimes those kinds of tensions are part of family life. It’s bad if we fail to be charitable, but it’s OK to disagree and learn from one another.” Advertisement Asked about a recent AI-generated image depicting President Trump in papal regalia — posted on Trump’s Truth Social account and the White House’s official X account — along with Trump’s recent joking remark, “I’d like to be pope.
That would be my No. 1 choice,” Henning dismissed the episode as “kind of ridiculous.” “I think it was disrespectful to the office of the presidency,” Henning said, reflecting a view of many Catholics around the world. “I would hope that he avoids those kinds of things in the future.” Trump has since claimed he did not personally post the image and was unaware of it before it appeared online, adding that anyone who was offended just “can’t take a joke”.
During the Mass, Henning prayed for the cardinals, asking God to “enlighten them with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit” as they gather to select the next pontiff. Afterward, some attendees shared a deep affection for Pope Francis — and hope that the next leader will carry on his legacy. “I was very fond of Pope Francis,” said Mary Beth O’Sullivan, 72, of Quincy.
“There are so many people on the margins of society who are neglected by all governments — it’s the Church’s job to care for them.” Daria Braithwaite, 23, of Marshfield, said she hoped the next pope would help bring young people back to the Church. “We are the future of the Church, and we have seen kind of a decrease in young people in the pews,” she said. “I think the first step is just inviting, and they might say no, but just that constant inviting will help them to feel a part of our one Church.” Advertisement Both women said they didn’t mind that Francis often spoke out on political issues — and hoped his successor wouldn’t shy away from doing the same.
“I don’t think religion and politics are separate,” O’Sullivan said. “All of life has political overtones.” Nathan Metcalf can be reached at nathan.metcalf@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @natpat_123.
