what the Catholic faithful hope for the future pope

François’ successor will have a lot to do to climb to the eyes of French Catholics at the height of the disappeared pontiff. According to an Odoxa survey carried out on April 24 and published by Le Figaro 91 % of them judge that José Mario Bergoglio was a good pope. What confirm this remarks that Mgr Pascal Gollnisch made us: “The church has never been so united. »»

According to another Odoxa*study, 64 %considered that the Pope should above all contribute to world peace rather than promoting Catholicism (22 %) or recalling Church positions on social subjects (13 %). The pilgrim Asked religious, laymen, parishioners, priests or bishops about their expectations.

1. Those who want a heir to François

Many of them wait until the one who will succeed the Argentinian pontiff deepens his furrow, in particular the attention to bring to the outskirts. “I pray for a pope who continues to put the poor at the heart of the church,” says Danielle, sister of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, met at the Mass of tribute to François to Notre-Dame de Paris.

Bishop Stanislas Lalanne, bishop emeritus of Pontoise, would appreciate that the next pontiff shares the predilection of his predecessor for popular piety. And is also comfortable in contact with people of all conditions. “The simplicity of relationship is what I expect from a pope inhabited by the Gospel. »»

Others hope that the opening shown by François in the place of homosexual people or remarried divorced, for example, will continue. “We are evolving in a world that is asking for more and more acceptance,” said Ana, a student in art history, who came to the mass of Notre-Dame, and who found the faith recently. For her, this tolerance played in the increase in the number of adults asking for baptism in France. Sister Christine Danel, former superior of the Xavières, would like her successor to continue to “circulate air” about women and will not close the reflection on their access to diaconate.

2. Those who want a more collegial church

Synodality. Behind this technical term hides one of François’ essential reforms. “His successor should have the priority to continue the path started during the synod on the synodality of 2021,” says Marie-Ange Turquais, referent on this theme for the diocese of Reims and the Ardennes.

Synodality is to take the time to listen to those that we are not used to listening and making collective decisions. It has a prophetic aspect in this world where we no longer believe in collective and politics. This approach can even, according to her, contribute to fighting abuses in the Church. “The excessive sacralization of priests and the concept of power are linked to abuse. Mgr Stanislas Lalanne also judges that it is necessary to “transform the test. Synodality gives more importance to episcopal conferences. Not everything can be settled in the Vatican. »»

3. Those who want liturgical freedom and moral clarity

François’ decision to restrict the practice of Tridentine Mass was not to everyone’s taste. Witness, Camille, 40 years old. “As a little bourgeois and rather attracted by the Tridentine liturgy, I did not feel very loved by this pope. I would like the next one to take care of all its sheep, not just lost sheep. Johann Ribette, priest of the diocese of Vannes, would also like that who will be elected after the conclave gives latitude to less “compatible” French “currents of Catholicism and is less” divisive “on this subject:” I hope he will have the love of diversity in the Church. It is made of men of different sensitivities and aims to touch the large number. For this, the Pope must allow the expression of other currents, such as traditionalists or charismatics, as long as they remain faithful to the truth revealed by Jesus Christ. »»

On the doctrinal level, Camille believes that “many truths have been left out in recent years. We must clarify what has become vague, especially on the family and marriage ”. It is also the wish of Father Ribette: “The Pope must be more precise and firmer on the principles of doctrine, for example those of matrimonial morality. If it is necessary to be careful not to be too directive with the faithful, the goal is to lead them to make the truth about their life, even if it is not always comfortable. »»

4. Those who want to be surprised

Others refuse to feed specific expectations. Not out of indifference, but in the name of their faith. For them, it is a question of accepting that the next pope has a different charisma to better identify his qualities, that they might not have discerned without this spirit of openness. They are ready to let themselves be jostling to better trust him. This is the case of Jeanne, a 74 -year -old Parisian parishioner.

“For the future Pope, I don’t want anything at all. I trust the cardinals. It is the Holy Spirit that will inspire them. Each pontiff brings his personal touch. Mgr Pascal Wintzer, bishop of Sens-Auxerre, sees in this approach a fruitful spiritual posture: “We will die of being” customers “, locked in our claims. I defend myself to expect something from François’s successor, otherwise I will be trapped in these expectations. I like these words from Simone Weil: “Thought must be empty, pending, seeking nothing, but being ready to receive in its naked truth the object that will enter it. This concerns above all people. Let’s learn to welcome them as they are and not as we want them to be. »»