In the days following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the Catholic Church finds itself in a sacred time of anticipation and prayer. As the College of Cardinals prepares for the conclave beginning May 7, many voices are weighing in on the kind of leader the Church needs next. Among them is Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, who offered a clear and spiritually grounded vision: the next pope must be, above all, “a believer in Jesus” and someone who proclaims the Resurrection in a compelling way.
In an interview with EWTN News Vatican Correspondent Colm Flynn on May 5 in Rome, Bishop Barron acknowledged the global interest and tension surrounding the conclave, saying the Church is on “pins and needles” — yet also called it “an exciting time.” However, he cautioned against viewing the selection of the new pope through a purely political lens.
“The politicization of the papal selection process reflects a lack of proper prioritization,” Barron said. He noted that while issues like climate change and immigration are important, they should not overshadow the essential identity of the Vicar of Christ. “[T]he preoccupation with — oh, is he left-wing? Is he right-wing? Climate change, immigration — OK, we can get to all that. But the first thing I’d look for is a disciple, a believer in Jesus, and who has the capacity to proclaim the Resurrection in a compelling way.”
Barron emphasized that the core mission of the papacy is rooted in spiritual leadership and evangelization, not politics. He recalled a response from the late Australian Jesuit theologian Father Gerald Glynn O’Collins when asked about his hopes for a new pope following the death of John Paul II. As Barron recounted, O’Collins said, “I want someone who declares the resurrection of Jesus in a compelling way.” Barron added, “Because that was Peter’s job, and this is the successor of Peter. I think to put the stress on the spiritual, on the evangelical, on the declaration of Jesus — that’s what matters.”
This kind of leadership, Barron explained, is what will truly unify the Church and carry out the mission entrusted to Peter. “That’s the pope’s job,” he said, “to be a source of unity for the Church.”
Though he acknowledged the broader implications of the papacy, including the need for wise political strategies that align with moral principles, Barron warned against reducing the role to partisan categories. “The politicization of the papacy is seeing [the role] through a relentlessly secular political lens,” he said. “And you know, again, I get it. But I’m annoyed at the way it gets the priorities off.”
As speculation swirls around potential successors, Bishop Barron offered a reminder from history. During the 2013 conclave, “nobody” expected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be elected. “I always put that forward as a caution whenever we’re talking about candidates,” he said. “There is certainly a good chance it won’t be any of these people.”
In this moment of discernment, Bishop Barron calls the faithful to return to the heart of the Church’s mission — a Church centered on Jesus Christ, led by a shepherd who can proclaim His Resurrection with faith, clarity, and conviction.
Sources: EWTN News interview with Bishop Robert Barron, May 5, 2025.
