Conservative Cardinals Attack Pope Francis' Legacy in the US and Italian Media

Cardinal Beniamino Stella, retired prefect of the Dicastery for Clergy, walks toward the Petriano entrance at the Vatican on April 24. Stella, 84, publicly criticized Pope Francis' church reforms

Tensions are rising within the College of Cardinals as a minority of senior members openly criticize the legacy of Pope Francis and urge the Church to retreat from his progressive reforms. These divisions came to light during a particularly heated session of the seventh pre-conclave plenary assembly on April 30, where Cardinal Beniamino Stella, 84, publicly accused Pope Francis of abandoning long-standing Church traditions.

Although over the age of 80 and ineligible to vote in the upcoming conclave, Stella used the platform to influence younger, voting cardinals. He voiced concern over Francis' restructuring of Church governance—specifically, his decision to appoint lay men and women to senior roles in the Roman Curia, a break from the historical linkage of authority to ordination. Stella stated that Francis “imposed his own ideas,” undermining ecclesial tradition and warned against continuing down this path.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 82, former archbishop of Genoa, joined the criticism, calling the current climate in Western culture “apocalyptic” and likening modernity to a “virus” fueled by consumerism and societal control. He warned of a Church becoming submissive to secular ideologies. Likewise, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, 94, expressed a desire to “give back the Church to Catholics,” lamenting perceived threats to Catholic doctrine and structure.

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state under Pope Francis, listen as members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops work during the synod Oct. 9, 2023.

The comments reflect broader concerns among traditionalists who view Pope Francis' inclusive and reformist approach as a departure from core ecclesiastical principles. Despite their vocal stance, it remains uncertain whether these critiques will significantly influence the conclave's outcome. A source close to the leadership of the Italian bishops' conference noted that only a handful of Italian cardinal electors are likely to be swayed by the positions of Stella, Bagnasco, and Ruini. The same source highlighted that key figures such as Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zuppi, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa represent a new direction for the Church, distinct from the older generation’s worldview.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American-born Augustinian friar currently leading the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, is increasingly viewed as a strong papal contender. Prevost, 69, brings a unique blend of pastoral experience from Latin America and Europe and administrative leadership from within the Vatican. His profile is gaining traction, particularly as Cardinal Parolin’s candidacy appears to lose momentum.

Prevost was reportedly seen entering the apartment of conservative U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke on April 30, raising speculation about high-level strategic discussions. Burke has long been one of the most vocal opponents of Pope Francis, and his alignment with any frontrunner adds weight to intra-conclave negotiations.

Pope John Paul II laughs while speaking with Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini aboard a papal flight in 1991. Now 94 and unable to vote in the conclave, Ruini is a leading figure among traditionalist Catholics opposing a new pontiff like Pope Francis.

Meanwhile, conservative German Cardinal Gerhard Müller reignited criticism of Pope Francis in an interview on May 1, calling for a new pope who is doctrinally firm and resistant to modern cultural pressures such as globalism and gender ideology. Müller had already made controversial statements while Francis' body lay in state, and his continued remarks underscore the entrenched opposition among some factions of the Church.

Experts on Vatican politics suggest that traditional left-right labels no longer capture the complexity of the current conclave dynamics. According to Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, the true debate centers on whether the Church should stabilize and consolidate post-Francis or continue its trajectory under a charismatic and evangelizing leader.

As the conclave nears, the ideological battle lines are becoming clearer, even as a new generation of electors considers how to shape the future of the Catholic Church in an increasingly complex world.