Battle for next pope centers on whether Rome will remain the Church’s power base

As cardinals prepare to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church, tensions are rising over whether Rome should continue to hold central authority in a rapidly globalizing faith.

As the May 7 conclave approaches, cardinals gather daily in Vatican City under the leadership of a 91-year-old cardinal to pay homage to the late Pope Francis — and quietly plot the direction of the Catholic Church’s future. Behind the formalities of respectful tributes lies an intense struggle over the very locus of power in a Church of 1.4 billion followers.

At the heart of this contest is a fundamental question: Should the Roman Curia continue to dominate global Catholic governance, or should authority shift outward to reflect the Church's growing geographic and cultural diversity?

Tensions Behind the Politeness

Inside the general congregations — the formal, pre-conclave meetings — cardinals carefully veil their critiques of Francis’ papacy.

“Everyone’s speaking well of Pope Francis,” one source noted. “But the way they speak good about him shows they don’t like him.”

Despite this diplomatic tone, divisions run deep. While doctrinal debates remain a factor, a more structural power struggle is unfolding over where — and by whom — decisions about theology and governance should be made.

Francis' Disruption of Old Power Structures

Francis, who died on April 21, spent his papacy decentralizing Church power, promoting non-European cardinals, and empowering laypeople and clerics from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He created 50 new voting-age cardinals from often-overlooked locales such as Bridgetown (St. Lucia) and Bogor (Indonesia), while bypassing traditional dioceses like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

His synodal process — extended for another three years just before his death — pushed the Church toward broader consultation and inclusion. But critics say it also fragmented the implementation of doctrine and diminished the influence of the Vatican bureaucracy.

Enter Pietro Parolin: The Rome-Focused Candidate

At the center of current lobbying is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and a longtime ally of Francis. Though once seen as a neutral diplomat, Parolin has become a rallying point for those who seek to restore the Vatican’s central authority.

Parolin’s quiet leadership during Francis' final illness, and his prominent prayer appearance in February, sparked both admiration and suspicion. Some see him as a continuation of Francis’ internationalism, while others portray him as a stabilizing force against what they view as disruptive decentralization.

Despite past controversies — including a scandal involving Vatican financial dealings and contentious diplomacy with China — Parolin enjoys backing from senior curial officials, especially Italians who are eager to see one of their own become pope for the first time in nearly five decades.

Divided Opposition and Weak Alternatives

Those in the pro-synodal camp are wary. They argue that Parolin might roll back some of Francis’ reforms and have instead floated Cardinal Mario Grech, general secretary of the synod, as a continuity candidate. Yet their camp is fractured and lacks a unifying figure.

“Rome cannot understand all the dynamics going on in different continents,” said one source, warning against re-centralization. “They don’t want the Church directed by the Roman Curia.”

Church historian Miles Pattenden notes that newer cardinals from far-flung dioceses may struggle to resist seasoned power brokers in Rome, particularly those from Europe and North America.

The Uncertain Road Ahead

Though Parolin’s name has gained traction, the Vatican's papal elections are notorious for sidelining frontrunners. Criticism of his recent Mass performance — seen as lacking charisma — has raised doubts about his “popeability.”

Ultimately, the push for Parolin may be more symbolic than personal — a signal that, for many cardinals, Rome’s primacy remains essential to the Church’s identity.

In an institution steeped in tradition, the idea of a decentralized Church may prove as unthinkable to some as the idea of a papacy without Rome at its center.

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