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

Published

1 day 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.”

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First conclave vote ends in black smoke as cardinals fail to agree on new pope

Published

9 hours ago

May 8, 2025

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First conclave vote ends in black smoke as cardinals fail to agree on new pope

Cardinals have failed to reach the required two-thirds majority in their first vote to choose a new pope in the Vatican.

Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 8pm, indicating they had been unable to agree.

Crowds in St Peter’s Square had been kept waiting longer than expected and most were hoping for the white smoke that signals the arrival of a new pontiff.

Latest updates as conclave under way

There was only one vote today, but from Thursday the 133 cardinals will hold two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon until at least 89 pick the same name.

The conclave started on Wednesday afternoon after cardinals swore an oath of secrecy and the doors of the Sistine Chapel were shut to the outside world.

They have given up their phones and are cut off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

The most recent conclaves – for Pope Francis in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope John Paul II in 1978 – all lasted less than three days.

The voting takes places beneath Michelangelo’s legendary frescoes and the chapel – normally a packed tourist site – has installed tight security.

It’s been swept for listening devices, signal jammers have been installed, and its windows have been covered to protect from spy drones.

Lead seals have also been put on 80 doors at the conclave site to stop people going in and out.

The cardinals will sleep and eat at the Casa Santa Marta, a guest house within the Vatican where Pope Francis lived, until the process is over.

They cardinals began Wednesday by taking mass, before a solemn two-by-two procession into the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon.

Dresses in their red garb, they chanted the Litany of the Saints and Veni Creator – a hymn imploring the saints to help them find a new leader.

They then each came forward to take an oath of secrecy, placing a hand on the gospel and also promising not to allow any outside influence.

The final piece of theatre was the Latin declaration “Extra omnes” (“everyone else out”) and Archbishop Diego Ravelli, an aide to the late pope, pushed the the doors shut.

Conclave is beginning 16 days after Pope Francis’s death, which came after a long hospital stay with pneumonia.

Many experts believe it will come down to a choice between someone who will continue his progressive approach and a more conservative candidate.

Among the favourites is Luis Tagle, a cardinal who could become the first Asian pontiff, and who’s 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.

The pope’s identity is normally revealed soon after the white smoke emerges, when he steps onto the balcony to wave to the crowds in St Peter’s Square.

World

Putin prepares to host dozens of world leaders for Victory Day parade in major PR coup for Moscow

Published

11 hours ago

May 7, 2025

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Putin prepares to host dozens of world leaders for Victory Day parade in major PR coup for Moscow

It’s hard not to view the motivating factor behind Vladimir Putin’s latest unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine as one of timing.

Starting today, the three-day truce coincides with Russia’s lavish celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.

The main event will be a huge military Victory Day parade on Red Square on Friday, where the Russian president will be welcoming more than two dozen world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the ceasefire proposal as theatre, and a cynical ploy by Mr Putin to protect his parade, rather than human lives.

It’s certainly true that the Kremlin wants to put on a good show – not just for its guests but for the rest of the world.

The arrival of so many heads of state, including the leaders of Brazil, Egypt and Vietnam – is a major PR coup for Moscow, and a chance to show the West that its efforts to isolate Russia have failed.

Announcing the guestlist earlier this week, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov claimed it was “an indicator of Russia’s growing authority in the world”.

With that in mind, a Ukrainian attack on the parade would be seriously embarrassing for Mr Putin.

In theory it could happen – Kyiv hasn’t committed to the ceasefire, instead calling for a 30-day pause, and has said it can’t guarantee the safety of foreign dignitaries who are visiting Russia – but I think it’s highly unlikely.

It would risk damaging relations with Donald Trump, whose stance regarding peace talks appears to have shifted recently in Kyiv’s favour.

But Ukraine is still doing its best to disrupt the preparations here. Multiple drone attacks over the past few days have forced Moscow’s airports to repeatedly suspend operations, just as foreign leaders have been flying in.

Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vucic reportedly took 10 hours to reach Moscow after his flight had to stopover in Azerbaijan. While more drones targeted Moscow just before Mr Xi touched down on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s an attempt by Ukraine to humiliate Mr Putin, and to convey to his guests how much it disapproves of their visit, which it regards as a show of support for Russia’s invasion.

World

India will ‘pay the price’ for ‘blatant mistake’ says Pakistan PM

Published

11 hours ago

May 7, 2025

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India will 'pay the price' for 'blatant mistake' says Pakistan PM

Pakistan’s prime minister has pledged to retaliate after India’s deadly missile strike, saying the country will “now have to pay the price” for their “blatant mistake”.

In a televised address on state broadcaster PTV, Shehbaz Sharif responded to Wednesday’s attack in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-administered parts of Kashmir, which a military spokesperson said had killed at least 31 civilians and wounded 46.

“For the blatant mistake that India made last night, it will now have to pay the price,” he said. “Perhaps they thought that we would retreat, but they forgot that… this is a nation of brave people.”

India said it struck nine Pakistani sites that provided “terrorist infrastructure”, which India said was the source of attacks against it. India’s defence minister claimed no civilian population was impacted.

Islamabad insisted that none of the locations targeted in Pakistan were militant camps.

India explained its strikes were in retaliation for the terrorist attack on 22 April, in which at least 26 people were shot dead by gunmen at a beauty spot near the resort town of Pahalgam in the India-administered part of Kashmir.

Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both sides claim in full and control in part.

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Indian forces attacked facilities linked to Islamist militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, two Indian military spokespeople told a briefing in New Delhi, in what New Delhi called “Operation Sindoor”.

Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the strikes were to pre-empt further attacks on India.

Pakistan’s military says exchanges of fire continued late Wednesday along the Line of Control, the border between it and India in Kashmir.

Pakistan also claimed it shot down several Indian aircraft on Wednesday, including three fighter jets that fell in India-administered Kashmir and India’s northern Punjab state.

Calls for restraint

Donald Trump said he wants to see India and Pakistan “work it out. I want to see them stop, and hopefully they can stop now. And if I can do anything to help, I will be there”.

There were also calls for restraint from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, China, Russia and the UK.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai told The World with Yalda Hakim that India and Pakistan “have to unite against the forces” trying to divide them.

“I hope that Pakistan and India and the international community will come together in this moment to try to de-escalate the tensions and promote peace, start a dialogue, because that is the only forward for all of us,” she said.

Separately, the UK’s Foreign Office has advised Britons against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border.

It has warned against travelling to the region of Jammu and Kashmir – including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The advice also suggests avoiding Manipur, in northeastern India.