Conclave writer says debate over women priests will be ‘big issue’ for new pope

Published

4 weeks ago

May 6, 2025

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The writer of Conclave has said he believes the role of women in the Catholic Church will be a “big issue” for the next pope.

Robert Harris, whose papal novel became a hit film, said the approach of Francis‘s successor would be crucial and was a “profoundly political moment for the world”.

Speaking on The News Hour with Mark Austin, he said he had been struck by how the gospels’ teachings, such as the “necessity to get rid of all worldly wealth”, appeared at odds with the grandeur associated with the papacy.

“When I compared that to the reality of the Vatican, it’s hard not to be struck by the contrast,” he said.

“And in particular, in the 21st century, can it really be the case that Christ did not intend half the world’s population to play a full role in spreading his word?”

“I don’t see how this cannot be the issue facing the church over the next few years,” Harris added.

“The Jewish faith has female rabbis, the Anglicans have female bishops; can it really be the case that Roman Catholics cannot allow the ordination of women?

“Maybe they won’t – but I cannot help but believe it will be a big issue,” said Harris.

Catholicism does not allow women to become priests – a principle confirmed by Pope John Paul II in 1994 when he said the church had “no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women”.

Harris said he had deliberately included the pivotal character of Sister Agnes in his story to “give some voice to these women” – who otherwise are shown looking after the cardinals during the film.

The secretive process to elect a new pope begins for real in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday when 133 cardinals begin the first round of voting amid tight security.

All eyes will be on the lookout for the white smoke that signals they have reached a decision.

The author, a former political journalist, told Sky News his research for the book included speaking to a cardinal who had taken part in the conclave.

He said the protocols portrayed by the likes of Ralph Fiennes in the movie were all true to life and set out by the Vatican.

However, he added: “I’m dramatising something, trying to make it entertaining, so I doubt whether the conclave will be so full of skulduggery as the novel and film.”

Harris said the election of the new pope – which requires a two-thirds majority – made it a political as well as spiritual exercise for the cardinals.

He agreed the battle is likely to be between traditionalist cardinals and those who want to continue Francis’s more informal, progressive approach.

Harris said the first South American pope “put a lot of noses out of joint in the grander bureaucracy of the church”.

“Francis really laid down a marker to the old guard,” he told Sky News.

“He didn’t move into the papal apartments, he refused the elaborate papal cars – he wanted a little ordinary car to go around in; he used to dine in the cafeteria at nights with the nuns who run the Casa Santa Marta.”

If Francis’s successor reverts to convention and moves back into the Apostolic Palace, Harris said it would be an “indication of the direction the new pope will take the church”.

Among the favourites to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics is Luis Tagle, a cardinal who could become the first Asian pope, and who has been likened to Pope Francis.

Two Italians are also seen as strong contenders: The Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi, and the so-called “deputy pope” Pietro Parolin.

Harris said whatever approach the new pontiff takes – whether a liberal interpretation or more conservative – would have a real impact on some of today’s most contentious issues, such as assisted dying for example.

“These crucial political decisions are greatly affected by the Roman Catholic Church,” said Harris.

“The church is an immensely wealthy, powerful institution that reaches into all areas of society, whether you’re Catholic or not. So this is a profoundly political moment for the world.”

World

Ukraine’s drone attack in Russia shows Kyiv felt it had nothing to lose

Published

2 hours ago

June 1, 2025

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Ukraine's drone attack in Russia shows Kyiv felt it had nothing to lose

An audacious Ukrainian drone attack against multiple airbases across Russia is a humiliating security breach for Vladimir Putin that will doubtless trigger a furious response.

Pro-Kremlin bloggers have described the drone assault – which Ukrainian security sources said hit more than 40 Russian warplanes – as “Russia’s Pearl Harbor” in reference to the Japanese attack against the US in 1941 that prompted Washington to enter the Second World War.

Ukraine war latest: Russia accuses Kyiv of ‘terrorist attack’

The Ukrainian operation – which used small drones smuggled into Russia, hidden in mobile sheds and launched off the back of trucks – also demonstrated how technology and imagination have transformed the battlefield, enabling Ukraine to seriously hurt its far more powerful opponent.

Moscow will have to retaliate, with speculation already appearing online about whether President Putin will again threaten the use of nuclear weapons.

“We hope that the response will be the same as the US response to the attack on their Pearl Harbor or even harsher,” military blogger Roman Alekhin wrote on his Telegram channel.

Codenamed ‘Spider’s Web’, the mission on Sunday was the culmination of one and a half years of planning, according to a security source.

In that time, Ukraine’s secret service smuggled first-person view (FPV) drones into Russia, sources with knowledge of the operation said.

Flat-pack, garden-office style sheds were also secretly transported into the country.

The oblong sheds were then built and drones were hidden inside, before the containers were put on the back of trucks and driven to within range of their respective targets.

At a chosen time, doors on the roofs of the huts were opened remotely and the drones were flown out. Each was armed with a bomb that was flown into the airfields, with videos released by the security service that purportedly showed them blasting into Russian aircraft.

Among the targets were Tu-95 and Tu-22 bomber aircraft that can launch cruise missiles, according to the Ukrainian side. An A-50 airborne early warning aircraft was also allegedly hit. This is a valuable platform that is used to command and control operations.

The use of such simple technology to destroy multi-million-pound aircraft will be watched with concern by governments around the world.

Suddenly, every single military base, airfield and warship will appear that little bit more vulnerable if any truck nearby could be loaded with killer drones.

The most immediate focus, though, will be on how Mr Putin responds.

Previous attacks by Ukraine inside Russia have triggered retaliatory strikes and increasingly threatening rhetoric from the Kremlin.

But this latest operation is one of the biggest and most significant, and comes on the eve of a new round of peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv that are meant to take place in Turkey. It is not clear if that will still happen.

US President Donald Trump has been pushing for the two sides to make peace but Russia has only escalated its war.

Ukraine clearly felt it had nothing to lose but to also go on the attack.

World

Two dead and hundreds of arrests across France after PSG’s Champions League win

Published

9 hours ago

June 1, 2025

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Two dead and hundreds of arrests across France after PSG's Champions League win

Two people are dead and nearly 560 people were arrested after disorder broke out in France following Paris Saint-Germain’s victory in the Champions League final, the French interior ministry has said.

The ministry added 192 people were injured and there were 692 fires, including 264 involving vehicles.

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the city of Dax during a PSG street party after Saturday night’s final in Munich, the national police service said.

The second person killed was a man who was hit by a car while riding a scooter during PSG celebrations, the interior minister’s office said.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez has said the man was in his 20s and although the incident is still being investigated, it appears his death was linked to the disorder.

Meanwhile, French authorities have reported that a police officer is in a coma following the clashes.

The officer had been hit by a firecracker that emerged from a crowd of supporters in Coutances in the Manche department of northwestern France, according to reports in the country.

Initial investigations reportedly suggest the incident was accidental and the police officer was not deliberately targeted.

The perpetrator has not been identified.

The interior ministry earlier said 22 security forces workers were injured during the chaos – including 18 who were injured in Paris, along with seven firefighters.

In a news conference today, Mr Nuñez said only nine of the force’s officers had been injured in the French capital.

He added that fireworks were directed at police and firefighters were attacked while responding to car fires.

There were 559 arrests across the country during the disorder, including 491 in Paris. Of those detained across the country, 320 were taken into police custody – with 254 in the French capital.

Mr Nuñez said although most people wanted to celebrate PSG’s win, some only wanted to get involved in fights with police.

He also said the force is only at “half-time” in its response because the PSG team will be celebrating their Champions League victory on the Champs Élysées later today.

Mr Nuñez said that the police presence and military presence in Paris will be increased on the ground for the parade.

It comes after flares and fireworks were set off in the French capital after PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich – the biggest ever victory in a Champions League final.

Around 5,400 police were deployed across Paris after the game, with officers using tear gas and pepper spray on the Champs Élysées.

At the top of the Champs Élysées, a water cannon was used to protect the Place de l’Etoile, near the landmark Arc de Triomphe.

Police said a large crowd not watching the match tried to push through a barrier to make contact with officers.

Some 131 arrests were made, including 30 who broke into a shoe shop on the Champs Élysées.

Police have said a total of four shops, including a car dealership and a barbers, were targeted during the disorder in Paris.

Two cars were set alight close to Parc des Princes, police said.

PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé appealed for calm in a post-match interview with Canal+, saying: “Let’s celebrate this but not tear everything up in Paris.”

After the final played at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, thousands of supporters also tried to rush the field.

Police lined up in front of the PSG end of the stadium at the final whistle, but struggled to contain the fans for several minutes when they came down from the stands following the trophy presentation.

Désiré Doué, the 19-year-old who scored two goals and assisted one in the final, said after the game: “I don’t have words. But what I can say is, ‘Thank you Paris,’ we did it.”

Despite being a supporter of PSG’s rivals Olympique de Marseille, French President Emmanuel Macron also said on social media: “A glorious day for PSG!

“Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening.”

Mr Macron’s office said the president would receive the players at the Elysee Palace on Sunday.