As the Catholic Church looks ahead to the election of a new pope, it finds itself at a defining moment. The successor to Pope Francis will not merely inherit a symbolic mantle but a Church grappling with deep internal divisions and unprecedented global challenges. The question is not just who the next pope will be, but what kind of leader the Church truly needs now. Should he be a bridge-builder, a reformer, a return-to-tradition figure, or something else altogether?

At the heart of the debate is a growing tension between two camps: the traditionalists and the progressives. Traditionalists argue that the Church has strayed too far from its doctrinal and liturgical roots. Progressives, on the other hand, emphasise inclusion, pastoral sensitivity, and adaptation to a changing world. They push for greater roles for women, a more welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ individuals, and a less rigid approach to moral theology.

Pope Francis has walked a fine line between these worlds, though he is often perceived as leaning progressive. His legacy is unmistakable: a pope who preferred mercy over judgment, who challenged global capitalism, who opened up dialogue on once-taboo subjects, and who persistently advocated for the poor and the marginalised. Under Francis, the Church became more global in tone and more pastoral in spirit.

So what should the new pope be like?

First and foremost, the next pope must be a reconciler. He should neither swing the pendulum fully back to traditionalism nor push change so quickly that he alienates the faithful. Instead, he must find a way to hold the Church's rich traditions in tension with its need for renewal. That balance is not about compromise for its own sake, but about fidelity to the Gospel in a world that is no longer the same.

Second, the next pope must be a listener. Francis initiated a global synodal process - a massive consultation of the faithful around the world - which marks a potentially transformative shift in how the Church governs. The next pope must take this process seriously, ensuring that listening becomes not a one-time exercise but a permanent disposition of the Church's leadership.

Third, the new pontiff must be intellectually and theologically robust. The questions posed by modernity - about gender, technology, secularism, pluralism - are not ones that can be addressed by slogans or simple moral pronouncements. They require deep engagement with Scripture, tradition, and contemporary human experience. The Church cannot afford to retreat into either dogmatic rigidity or vague spiritual platitudes.

Moreover, the next pope must also continue Francis' global vision. The Church is growing most rapidly in the Global South, particularly in Africa and Asia. A pope who understands and reflects the concerns of these regions - poverty, war, religious pluralism, and youth demographics - will be vital to ensure that Catholicism remains truly universal.

There is also the question of institutional reform. Francis began important steps to address financial corruption, clerical abuse, and Vatican bureaucracy, but these efforts are far from complete. A new pope must show resolve to continue these reforms, ensuring that the Church's moral credibility is not undermined from within.

The next pope must face modernism head-on - not as a threat to be feared, but as a context in which the Church is called to witness creatively. Modernism, with its emphasis on individualism, scepticism, and technological change, challenges the Church to rearticulate its message in new language. But that doesn't mean watering down doctrine; it means making it intelligible and compelling for a new generation.

The conclave that elects the next pope will be choosing more than a man - they will be setting a course. Will the Church double down on the legacy of Francis, with its emphasis on pastoral outreach and reform? Or will it change course toward a more traditional path, seeking to reassert control and clarity?

The next pope must be a shepherd who leads not from behind or above, but beside its people, helping them navigate the complexities of a modern world with courage, faith, and love.