Next pope needs ‘steady diplomatic hand’, faces ‘complicated time’ ahead, anthropologist says

As cardinals voted for a second day to choose the next head of the Catholic church, speculation continued over which names might be put forward inside the Sistine Chapel. Whoever the next pope may be, he will have to tackle issues both within the church and on an international scale. On FRANCE 24’s Perspective programme, cultural anthropologist Marc Loustau says the next pontiff would need “a steady diplomatic hand” amid a changing global order. He adds that Pope Francis “tried to use his moral charisma” to bring warring parties closer together to broker peace but ultimately failed.