So, here’s the deal. We’re talking about Pope Francis, right? This pope, he decided he wanted to keep things low-key when he’s gone. And by low-key, I mean super chill. Like, no flashy stuff. At St Peter’s Basilica, his body’s sitting in this simple, bare-bones coffin. No grandeur, no elevated bier to make him look all high and mighty. Just a plain old underground tomb with “Franciscus” scratched on it because that’s how he wanted it. No frills, just a name.
Now, Saturday’s gonna be a big day – funeral day. People are pouring in by the thousands to say their goodbyes. The man had this raw, down-to-earth vibe that got people, Catholic or not, to kind of dig him, you know? But here’s where it gets messy: what’s happening next with the church is anyone’s guess. Politics, power, tradition – this stuff is like a dog’s breakfast.
The papal conclave—fancy word for all those cardinals getting together to choose a new pope—kicks off in May. And boy, is it gonna be something. Francis stirred the pot with his whole forward-thinking approach on sexuality, diversity, climate change. You name it, he had an opinion on it, and not everyone liked it. Especially those folks who like their church the old-school way. They’re itching for a more hardcore, set-in-stone kind of leader.
Then you got the cardinals from places like Africa and Asia, handpicked by Francis because he wanted the church to look like, well, the world as it is now. They might want someone who’s all about fighting global inequality and climate issues. Will they team up with the western conservatives? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s like throwing all these different ingredients into a pot and seeing what kind of stew you get – could be spicy, could end up bland.
Everyone’s buzzing about who might be the next top dog, but honestly, nobody knows. These folks are a mystery, even to each other. It’s like a reality TV show where the contestants are behind a curtain. Remember back in the ‘70s when that Polish dude, Karol Wojtyla, popped up outta nowhere to become John Paul II? Yeah, it could be one of those surprise moments.
John Paul II, now there’s a dude who shook things up. Had the church playing a massive part in taking down communism back in the ‘80s. Even though he was a conservative guy, he seemed to roll with the changes that came with toppling authoritarian regimes.
Now, Francis, he’s a different breed. Standing almost like a lone wolf against this new wave of political craziness and clamping down on freedoms. We need someone to pick up that torch, but who knows? This conclave is like throwing a bunch of cats in a room and hoping they organize themselves into something coherent. Roll the dice, folks, ’cause it’s all up in the air!
