The cardinals who are electing the next pope sometimes look as ideologically polarized as many secular voters around the globe. Many conservative Roman Catholic Church leaders disagreed with Pope Francis, who was often a darling of liberals around the world.
But the typical divisions between progressives and conservatives don’t correspond so neatly with the ideological battles within the Vatican and the broader church. Complex debates are ongoing over the role of women and L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics in the church, whether priests should be able to marry, accountability for sexual abuse by priests and other divisive questions.
More than any single issue, the choice of the next pontiff will be dominated by a philosophical question: Who deserves a say in determining the church’s future?
Motoko Rich is a reporter in Tokyo, leading coverage of Japan for The Times.
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