Cardinals choosing the next pope have been offered a dossier on candidates – with a subtext

Cardinals Choosing the Next Pope Have Been Offered a Dossier on Candidates – With a Subtext

May 7, 2025

As speculation mounts about who will succeed Pope Francis, an intriguing development has emerged behind the scenes: cardinals preparing for a future conclave are quietly being offered dossiers detailing the strengths, weaknesses, and past actions of potential papal candidates. But these documents aren’t just dry summaries – they come with a subtle subtext that could shape the future direction of the Catholic Church.

A Quiet Campaign in the Vatican

While Pope Francis remains in office, whispers of succession have become more frequent, particularly in light of his age and health. Sources close to the Vatican confirm that several influential clerics, possibly with the backing of key curial figures, have been circulating private dossiers to cardinals around the world.

These dossiers outline the theological leanings, diplomatic experience, management style, and personal histories of papabili – those considered viable contenders for the papacy. On the surface, these appear to be neutral briefings. But seasoned Vatican observers suggest the language used and the context provided in many of these documents reveal something deeper: an effort to influence the outcome of the next conclave.

Reading Between the Lines

“The subtext is often louder than the text,” said one Vatican analyst who asked to remain anonymous. “For example, a dossier might describe a candidate as ‘faithful to tradition,’ which could signal a preference for a conservative theological stance. Or it might emphasize someone’s ‘pastoral sensitivity and inclusivity,’ pointing to alignment with Pope Francis’s more progressive reforms.”

Even more telling is what the dossiers omit. The absence of detail about a candidate’s handling of abuse cases, financial transparency, or political alliances can be a signal in itself. In an environment where every word is weighed carefully, the gaps speak volumes.

Factions and Future Visions

The emergence of these dossiers highlights the ideological tensions simmering within the Church. One faction seeks to preserve and expand on Pope Francis’s reforms – especially his openness to marginalized communities and decentralization of power. Another seeks to recalibrate or roll back these changes in favor of a more traditional, doctrinally firm Church.

Some dossiers, sources say, are thinly veiled endorsements. Others read more like warnings. What’s clear is that this is not a neutral process. The dossiers represent a kind of quiet campaigning – subtle, unofficial, and deniable – but potentially decisive.

Transparency or Intrigue?

Though the practice of circulating background information among cardinals is not new, the strategic framing of these dossiers adds a layer of intrigue. Some see them as helpful tools to inform the cardinals, many of whom may not personally know all the leading candidates. Others worry that they are a form of lobbying that threatens the spiritual integrity of the conclave process.

“There’s always an element of politics in any human institution, including the Church,” said Professor Massimo Faggioli, a Church historian. “But the line between discernment and manipulation can be very thin.”

The Path Ahead

No date has been set for a conclave, and Pope Francis has not indicated any immediate plans to step down. But the preparation underway – dossiers included – suggests that many inside the Vatican are already positioning themselves for a post-Francis Church.

In the end, it will fall to the cardinal electors to read not just the dossiers, but also the signs of the times, and choose a pope who can lead the Church through the complexities of the 21st century. Whether they heed the subtexts or resist them could determine the shape of Catholicism for decades to come.