The truth is no one really knows what to expect from the conclave. Due to being both a divine and human event, papal conclaves are usually almost impossible to predict.
Newsroom (07/05/2025 20:15, Gaudium Press) An often heard phrase is he who enters the conclave as a pope leaves as a cardinal. Another Roman phase is “A fat pope follows a thin one” this adage in the Catholic Church describing a perceived trend that conclaves tend to counterbalance the preceding pope with one having different ideological emphases.
Yet many Catholic’s like to try to guess at which cardinal could become the pope. We review here some of the papabili.
Cardinal Robert Sarah
Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah is known for his deep faith, intellectual rigor, and unwavering commitment to traditional Catholic doctrine, which resonate with orthodox Catholic faithful worldwide. The author of several highly acclaimed books and a former prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Liturgy and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Sarah is well-known for his personal sanctity and love for the Church. He is admired for having a fearless, prophetic voice, combined with a measured outspokenness in defending the Faith for which he has become well known, especially with regard to the Church’s moral teaching.
1. Background & Rise to Prominence
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Born: June 15, 1945, in Ourous, French Guinea (one of 10 children in a peasant family)
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Early Distinction:
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Ordained at 24 (1969)
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Became world’s youngest bishop at 34 (1979) earning him the nickname the “baby bishop” from John Paul II
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Archbishop of Conakry (1979-2001)
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Survivor: Resisted Marxist dictatorship in Guinea (1979-1984), the Marxist dictatorship of Ahmed Sékou Touré, put Sarah on a hit list.
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Vatican Roles:
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President of Cor Unum (2010-2014) – At the time of the last conclave, Cardinal Sarah hardly figured on papabile lists, serving at the time as president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, in which he was quietly helping Benedict XVI to instill greater fidelity to the Church’s teaching among Catholic charities.
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Prefect of Divine Worship (2014-2021) – Liturgical czar under Benedict XVI & Francis
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2. Theological Positions & Controversies
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Traditionalism:
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Called “the Black Ratzinger” for doctrinal conservatism – He favors a “reform of the reform” when it comes to the liturgy — to refine the Second Vatican Council’s teaching on the liturgy in order to end abuses.
- He placed particular importance on promoting the Mass ad orientem, spoke strongly in favor of Communion on the tongue, and argued against intercommunion between Catholics and non-Catholics. He also warned against the danger of Pharisaism in some traditional liturgical circles.
- Cardinal Sarah spoke almost apocalyptically at the 2015 Synod on the Family about the contemporary evils of abortion, the same-sex agenda, and Islamism.
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Authored “The Day Is Now Far Spent” (2019) warning of Western secularization
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Took up a leading role in countering the promotion of the blessing of same-sex couples, becoming one of the most vociferous critics of Fiducia Supplicans. He has also warned against the dangers of the current “Synod on Synodality.”
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Liturgical position:
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Championed Latin Mass revival – The cardinal has played a major role in supporting Catholics who attend the traditional Latin Mass in the face of growing persecution from Rome.
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Clashed with Pope Francis over Traditionis Custodes (2021) restricting TLM
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Called “ad orientem” worship “theological necessity” – At the 2016 liturgy conference in London, he invited all priests to celebrate Mass ad orientem on the first Sunday of Advent that year, thereby ensuring that “in our celebrations, the Lord is truly at the center.” Sarah also held that, “contrary to what has sometimes been maintained, and quite in keeping with the conciliar Constitution, it is altogether appropriate, during the penitential rite, the singing of the Gloria, the orations and the Eucharistic prayer, that everyone, priest and faithful, turn together toward the East, so as to express their intention to participate in the work of worship and redemption accomplished by Christ.”
- Is against the ordination of women and also of female deaconesses which he calls a “Trojan Horse” for eventual priestly ordination.
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3. Global Influence & Paradoxes
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African Perspective:
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Critiques “colonization” of Church by Western liberalism
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Warns Africa against repeating Europe’s secularization
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Relationship with Pope Francis
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Close to Benedict XVI (co-authored “From the Depths of Our Hearts” on priestly celibacy)
- Maintains cordial but tense relationship with Pope Francis. He usually kept silent in the face of some deep concerns about Francis’ pontificate, staying out of the 2016 dubia controversy and debates over papal pronouncements and instead offering oblique warnings. This reticence to criticize the Pope is also partly attributed to his closeness to Opus Dei which has managed some of his media relations and has a policy of not publicly criticizing the Pope or bishops.
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Conclusion
Sarah represents the most articulate traditionalist counter-voice to Francis’ papacy. His unique blend of African identity, Thomistic theology, and liturgical traditionalism makes him a singular figure in Church politics. Far from having lost his status in the Church with his retirement in 2021, Cardinal Sarah has gained in notoriety and recognition as a defender of the faith. For some years, he has been regarded — especially by the more orthodox Catholic wing of the Church — as a leading contender to be the first African pope since Pope Gelasius I in the fifth century.
On the other hand, His criticisms of aspects of Francis’ pontificate, although widely shared among practicing faithful, could work against him if they fail to resonate with the cardinal electors.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from collegeofcardinalsreport.com
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