Progressive Faith Leaders Rally for a Like-Minded Successor After Pope Francis’ Passing

Progressive Christians across America are feeling a deep sense of loss after the passing of Pope Francis, a figure many saw as both an ally and a beacon of hope. For these communities, Francis was more than just a pontiff—he was a rare voice in global Christianity who pushed back against the wave of conservative religious influence that's been making headlines in the U.S.

According to prominent church leaders, Pope Francis stood as a stark contrast to what Bishop Sean W. Rowe of the Episcopal Church calls a brand of Christianity "mixed with nationalism"—something he bluntly labeled as "not only fundamentally not Christian but also dangerous." That’s a statement that’ll definitely ruffle some collars at Sunday brunch.

With Francis gone, progressive voices are calling on their followers to step up. "We have to begin to step up and communicate this message in ways that are winsome and compelling," said Rowe, adding that politics have hijacked Christian language and storylines, and it's time for the faithful to reclaim them.

Liberal Jesuit Father James Martin also weighed in, drawing a sharp visual contrast between Francis' compassionate visit to inmates at Regina Coeli prison in Rome and Republican Rep. Riley Moore’s two-thumbs-up photo op in front of prisoners at El Salvador's Terrorist Confinement Center. The latter’s grin was apparently not lost on anyone. Martin commented, "The two pictures could not be more different... One says we accompany people, no matter who they are, and the other says we turn our backs on them and mock them." If a picture is worth a thousand words, these two are basically dueling manifestos for the soul of Christianity.

As progressive leaders worry about the future of their movement, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of Washington’s Episcopal Diocese reminded everyone that, "some of us have to keep a candle burning," no matter which way the political winds blow. Budde, who previously challenged President Trump at a prayer service, is determined not to let hope flicker out, saying, "Someday the pendulum will swing back." Because honestly, hope is the one thing that never seems to go out of style—even in the Vatican.