Fr. Robert Sirico interviewed by Daily Wire about Conclave

'I don't think there's going to be a Francis 2.0.'

The papal conclave begins today, with dozens of cardinals arriving from around the globe to lock themselves away in the Sistine Chapel and cast ballots in secret for Pope Francis’ successor.

Amid the excitement, conservative Catholics in the United States are reflecting on Pope Francis, trying to make sense of a complicated papacy and wondering where the Catholic Church may be headed next.

The late pope was known for his love of the poor and his humble habits, but he also attracted controversy.

“Without a doubt he was inspirational to many people,” Austin Ruse, president of the Center for Family and Human Rights told The Daily Wire.

“There’s an outpouring of love toward him upon his passing and even conservatives can rejoice that he is now in the presence of his Maker. Even conservatives can recognize that he loved the Lord deeply,” Ruse said. “Having said that, I will also say that for many people, his pontificate was confusing.”

Both Francis’ official statements and offhand remarks frequently caused confusion among the faithful and sparked vehement criticism, even from his own cardinals.

“I think it was a very conflictual legacy,” Fr. Robert Sirico, founder of the conservative Acton Institute told The Daily Wire.

“I think you had almost opposites in the same person because he would affirm clearly and sometimes in very blunt language the Church’s teaching on the controversial issues, but on the other hand he was sending messages that endeared him to the most progressive elements of the Church, and it’s not clear to me what his strategy was,” Sirico said.

To see more, please follow the link to the original article, which was first published by The Daily Wire.