There are 135 Catholic cardinals from 70 different countries who will convene on Wednesday, May 7, for a secretive conclave that will end with the selection a new pope. Vatican watchers are wondering whether the next pontiff will be a reform-minded modernist, like Pope Francis himself, or more of a conservative traditionalist, like many of Francis’ critics. Among the cardinals voting for a new pope, 80% were elevated by Francis. But that doesn’t mean they’re all like-minded. As The World’s Matthew Bell reports, it’s not clear at all who will ultimately be chosen to lead the Catholic Church next.
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