Episode 3049: The Next Conclave: Choosing a Pope or Campaigning for a CEO by Nancy - Part 1

The Next Conclave: Choosing a Pope or Campaigning for a CEO?
Welcome back to Catholic Reboot. I am Nancy, your guest Host, joined as always by your Catholic Reboot host, Walt.
Before we begin, let’snstart with prayer for guidance.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest and Divine Head of the Mystical Body, look with mercy upon Thy Church, which Thou hast founded upon the rock of Peter.
Send forth Thy Holy Ghost upon the Church, that He may guide her in all truth, guard her from error, and raise up shepherds after Thine own Heart. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, and of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, protect Thy Bride from the snares of modernism, human respect, and worldly ambition.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

I recently read an article in the National Catholic Reporter written by Christopher White, on April 22, 2025 from Rome, Titled “Who will be the next pope? Inside the race to succeed Francis.”
I viewed this article with an eye more geared towards a traditional Catholic lens rather than the more modern lens in which it may have been written. In the last couple of years, I have learned to read and think more from the unwavering teachings of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Today’s episode tackles a sobering but necessary topic: The Next Conclave and whether the Church will choose a holy man of God or merely another global manager.
This article paints the upcoming papal conclave in terms that mirror more of a political election. It’s full of marketing language, demographic concerns, and “strategic shifts.” But what's painfully absent is any supernatural faith, any sense that we’re discussing the election of the Vicar of Christ on earth, not the CEO of a nonprofit. I know Walt presented Episode 3038: This Is a Papal Election is Not a Secular Election, but I would like to take it a step even further and build upon it.
So today, I will reflect deeply on the divine nature of the papacy, the dangers of political and social manipulation, and what the Holy Popes of the past would say about this crisis. Let's begin with first principles.
The Papacy Is a Divine Institution, Not a Political Office
The papacy is not a job title to be won, nor is it a position of influence over millions. It is a sacred office instituted by Jesus Christ Himself, when He said: “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).
At Vatican I, the Church solemnly defined that the pope has full, supreme, and universal power over the Church but is always to protect and transmit the Deposit of Faith .
Let me provide the words of Pope Leo XIII, who wrote in Satis Cognitum (1896):
"To Peter alone Jesus promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven... and he established in him the visible head of the Church; this is not a human institution, but a divine one."
To treat this holy office like a boardroom election is sacrilegious. The Holy Ghost, not human influence, guides the conclave if the electors are humble enough to listen.
Doctrine is Love: Sentimentality is Not
The article praises the shift away from "doctrine and discipline" toward so-called "pastoral theology." Cardinal McElroy claimed Pope Francis’ greatest act was to prioritize people’s experiences over the clarity of doctrine.
But this is false compassion. True charity cannot exist apart from truth. St. Thomas Aquinas said: “Veritas est quaerenda et amanda”, “Truth is to be sought and loved.”
Pope St. Pius X, in his encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907), warned with prophetic clarity:
"The greatest asset of the Modernists is that they blend sentiment with doctrine. In truth, what they propose is not religion, but a religious feeling."
This is what we are now witnessing: faith replaced by feeling, doctrine replaced by discussion groups, and obedience replaced by opinion polls.
Modernist theology, as Pope St. Pius X rightly taught, dismantles the immutable truths of the Church in favor of something more “pastoral” but this is pastoral deception, not love.

True Diversity is Unity in Truth
The article celebrates Pope Francis’ re-engineering of the College of Cardinals to emphasize diversity - geographic, ideological, and cultural.
But the Catholic Church has always been universal. Its unity is not based on location or language, but on fidelity to the One Truth.
Pope Benedict XV, in his encyclical Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum (1914), lamented early signs of modern division:
"The unity of the Church can only be preserved by the unity of faith... We must hold fast to that which the Church has always believed, always taught, and always practiced."
The next pope must not represent the world, but Christ. The standard is not inclusion but sanctity, orthodoxy, and the courage to defend the Faith, no matter the cost.

The Role of the Media and Human Intrigue
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the article is its tone of casual acceptance that outside forces like social media, public opinion, and even influencer groups might try to direct the conclave.
But the conclave is supposed to be sealed off from the world, guided solely by the Holy Ghost. As we know from history, however, this process is often influenced by lobbying, factions, and manipulation. We saw this with the St. Gallen Mafia, openly admitted by Cardinal Danneels. (In the mid-1990s, a clandestine group of high-ranking churchmen began gathering in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Opposed to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the circle plotted a revolution in stealth.
By 2015, their secret ached to be told. Before an audience, Cardinal Godfried Danneels joked of being a part of a “mafia.” But as explosive as Danneels’s confession was, a thick cloud of mystery still enshrouds the St. Gallen mafia.)
Pope St. Pius X, once again, warned us plainly:
“The partisans of error are to be found not only among the Church’s open enemies, but... within her very bosom. They put themselves forward as reformers... and even attempt to change the very constitution of the Church.”
Efforts to politicize the conclave are not reform—they are rebellion. The only reform needed is a return to the unchanging truths of the Faith.
What the Cardinals Must Seek in a Pope
Instead of speculating about who has charisma, managerial skills, or popularity, the only question should be: Is this man holy? Is he faithful to Tradition? Will he speak the truth even if it costs him everything?
Let’s remember what Pope St. Pius X said when he was elected. A friend remarked that he would be a good pope because he was a diplomat. Pius X responded:
“I am not a diplomat. I am a shepherd. And I will die as a shepherd.”
What the Church needs now is a man of prayer, a defender of the Latin Mass, a lover of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a son of the Church who lives by the words: Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi—how we pray shapes how we believe and live.
One More Thing: As a Catholic, it is your responsibility to arm yourself with the right knowledge
The Daily Dot
“The 2025 Papal conclave hasn’t just sparked global religious interest—it has ignited a meme-fueled frenzy across social media.
In the wake of Pope Francis’s death, the internet is treating the election of the next pope like the Oscars, the Met Gala, and the Iowa caucus rolled into one—fueled largely by the hit 2024 film Conclave.”

As we get closer to the start of the conclave, be aware of what you are seeing and hearing! As Walt indicated in one of his recent episodes, Episode 3042: Blinded by the World: The Crisis of Catholic News Consumption
be discerning in where you are getting your information - gather your own facts; don’t jump on the social media bandwagon which will only commercialize, demoralize and trivialize the sanctity of this conclave. Walt asked us in that episode, “Am I being formed by Christ or by CNN?” Not to be repetitive, but it’s important enough to share the information again!
Walt fortunately tells us where to find the true voices:
Thankfully, there are still faithful outlets:
• Catholic Family News
• The Remnant
• LifeSiteNews
• OnePeterFive
• The more traditional sections of EWTN and Church Militant.
But, he adds, these require effort to seek out they are not algorithms’ favorites. So, yes, that means you need to look for these, but isn’t it worth it? - To be able to arm yourself with the truth? Especially with this social media storm brewing? As a former English teacher I have to use one of my favorite words - cacophony. The circus of social media - will soon become a cacophony, which is defined as a loud harsh noise, especially unintelligible or dissonant sound. And it will work, unfortunately, for the many who are easily distracted and taken in by the flashing lights, pretty colors and screeching bells and whistles. Just remember that the truth lies quietly waiting to be discovered and shared.
I encourage you to visit Catholic Reboot on Rumble and check out Episode 3042 and learn about more ways to be informed.

Wal, is there anything else you would like to add before we conclude?
Conclusion: Christ Still Rules His Church
We must resist despair and hold fast to Christ’s promises. He is the Head of the Church. He rules her still even in stormy waters. As He told Peter: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
If we are seeing corruption, confusion, or cowardice in the hierarchy, it is a call for you and me to respond with prayer, penance, and fidelity.
Pray for the cardinals. Pray for the next pope. And above all, pray that the Church will not choose a globalist or diplomat but rather, choose a saint.

Closing Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
O Lord, guide the cardinal electors. May they close their ears to the world and open their hearts to Heaven. Raise up a shepherd like unto Thy own Heart zealous for truth, unmoved by flattery, and faithful until death.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Until next time keep the Faith, defend Tradition, and pray for Holy Mother Church. In the words of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, “God love you.”