News analysis Vance wants a say in future of Catholic Church after death of Pope

There is a certain irony in the fact that the last foreign leader Pope Francis received, before his passing, for an audience was US Vice-President J.D. Vance.

- Jonathan Eyal

LONDON -

The meeting between the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and the US politician who had converted to Catholicism embodies the deep theological division now splitting the Catholic Church, between a progressive, more humanistic and global approach promoted by the late Pope and the politically conservative view espoused by Mr Vance and many far-right US leaders.

It is this divide that the conclave of Cardinals will have to bear in mind when it convenes in about two weeks from now to elect a new pope.

And many right-wing Catholic institutions, some encouraged by politicians such as Mr Vance in the US, will be trying to strengthen the hands of conservative cardinals in making their choice.

Several factors made Pope Francis unusual.

A native of Argentina, he was the first pontiff in 1,300 years not to come from Europe, and that counted for a great deal.

The late Pope's decision to take up a name used by none of his 265 predecessors was a first indication of his uniqueness.

But so was Pope Francis' view of his stewardship of the Church.

Solidarity with the poor, the idea of universal fraternity that goes beyond nations and sees humanity as one whole, and concern for the environment embodied his papacy.

He also subtly reminded Europeans that they are no longer the dominant strand of Christianity and that most of his Church believers do not live in wealthy countries or share Europe's priorities and concerns.

The Catholic Church, he preached, must not only be present where it matters, but must also be accessible. It is not a "fortress" but a "mobile hospital", as Pope Francis once put it.