The new Pope is not expected to make rapid changes, say experts

Experts believe the new Pope is unlikely to implement swift changes, contrasting sharply with U.S. President Donald Trump, who actively worked to overturn his predecessor’s policies. Even if the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church adopts a more conservative approach, they are expected to preserve Pope Francis’s legacy.

“Unlike in the U.S. government, where a new president can overhaul the entire cabinet,” explains clergy member Thomas Reese, a commentator for Religion News Service and author of “Inside the Vatican,” a comprehensive guide to the Roman Catholic Church’s organization.

The conclave to elect the new pope is set to begin next week. Although the new pope will take on responsibilities immediately, significant changes are not anticipated. Vatican officials serve five-year terms and typically resign upon the pope’s death, but the new pontiff usually reaffirms existing appointments.

Pope John Paul II, elected in 1978, took nearly seven years to fully replace members of the central administration, known as the Curia. Initially, the actions and spontaneous remarks made by the new pope—such as whom he chooses to engage with—carry notable weight.

For instance, Pope Francis’s groundbreaking statement on tolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community—“Who am I to judge?”—just months after his election sparked significant reactions from conservative cardinals.

German Cardinal Gerhard Müller, whom Francis ousted from his position as head of the Doctrine of the Faith tribunal and who will attend the conclave, noted that Francis’s involvement in various issues has caused confusion among followers. “It’s crucial that the next pope serves as the global leader of the Roman Catholic Church, not merely as someone’s personal priest,” he stated to Reuters.

More progressive than Müller, Swedish Cardinal Lars Anders Arborelius, also a conclave participant, recognized that “not everyone shares Francis’s openness.” Acknowledging that a conservative pope might not alter Francis’s legacy, Arborelius noted to Reuters that although a new pope would attempt to make an impact on social issues, such changes require time.

The most significant influence a new pope can wield is through the appointment of bishops globally, but these adjustments also take years to effect. Typically, bishops are not dismissed unless serious misconduct occurs. The Vatican often waits until a bishop passes away or reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75 before appointing a successor.

Following his election in 1978, Pope John Paul II believed the 1965 Second Vatican Council had resulted in overly liberal bishop appointments. He accordingly influenced appointments, a stance continued by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Francis, while taking a more progressive approach, appointed over 80% of the cardinals who will select the new pope. Currently, there are 133 eligible cardinals under the age of 80 participating in next week’s conclave, with two additional voting members unable to attend due to health issues.