Conservative Catholics Reflect on the Papal Conclave and the Future of the Church

Ross Douthat, a prominent opinion writer, hosted a virtual discussion with Michael Brendan Dougherty, a senior National Review contributor, and Dan Hitchens, a senior editor at First Things. The conversation focused on conservative Catholic perspectives regarding the upcoming papal conclave and the anticipated direction of the next pontificate.

Douthat opened by noting this conclave marks the third of his adult life, but unlike before, many conservative Catholics now approach it more as outsiders seeking change rather than loyal supporters hoping for continuity. He asked how the conservative relationship with Rome and its authority evolved throughout Pope Francis's tenure, and what tensions with a more liberal pontificate have meant for conservative Catholicism.

Dougherty responded by reflecting on the post-Vatican II era, when many conservative Catholics found themselves at odds with their local bishops, who often pushed reforms beyond the council's official decrees. The firm doctrinal stances issued by John Paul II and Benedict XVI—many authored by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger—served as a foundation for conservatives’ belief in the Church's unerring authority. However, during Francis’s papacy, many have had to reconsider these interpretations.

Hitchens observed that many conservatives previously held a near-automatic alignment with papal statements, a stance that was more a partial truth than formal Catholic doctrine. Pope Francis’s tenure disrupted this assumption by challenging various Church teachings, causing a significant spiritual and intellectual upheaval among conservative believers. This disruption, he noted, has led to a more honest and thoughtful reassessment of their relationship with the Vatican.

When asked where this reexamination might lead, Hitchens explained that while it has become more complex to maintain a straightforward view of papal authority, Francis’s ambiguous and non-committal approach to controversial topics has paradoxically clarified matters. For example, the pope raised expectations about permitting married priests but ultimately did not enact such reforms, illustrating that while the pope holds absolute authority, he may choose when to exercise it.