Picking the Next Pope & Democrats’ New Message | 4.22.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: "Picking the Next Pope & Democrats’ New Message" | April 22, 2025

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1. The Passing of Pope Francis and the Search for His Successor

The episode opens with the somber news of Pope Francis' passing, which occurred just one day after he delivered his Easter message to millions of Christians worldwide. Host Georgia Howe introduces the topic, highlighting the imminent selection of a new pontiff and the emergence of several potential candidates.

• Georgia Howe [00:03]: "Pope Francis passes away just one day after delivering an Easter message to millions of Christian faithful."

2. Assessing Pope Francis’ Legacy

John Bickley delves into Pope Francis' transformative and sometimes polarizing papacy. He discusses Francis' progressive reforms and their potential reversals under a new pope.

• John Bickley [00:33]: "Pope Francis had opened the door to giving blessings to individuals and same-sex unions. That's something we could potentially see reversed."

The conversation touches on Francis' significant actions, such as his 2013 statement on gay priests and his 2015 encyclical advocating for environmental action. Bickley also notes Pope Francis' consistent stance on immigration, referencing his recent warnings against anti-migrant sentiments.

• John Bickley [02:01]: "He did endorse civil unions for same-sex couples. That was a historic move for a pope. And he approved a document saying that priests could bless gay couples."

3. Conservative Backlash and Church Dynamics

Despite his progressive initiatives, Francis faced resistance from conservative factions within the Church. Bickley explains how Francis' efforts to suppress conservative resurgence led to tensions, including restrictions on the Latin Mass and the appointment of more moderate and progressive bishops.

• John Bickley [04:11]: "Francis also took actions to suppress a conservative resurgence in the church."

The episode features insights from Father Robert Sirico, who believes accusations labeling Francis as a Marxist are exaggerated, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who critiques Francis' understanding of the United States.

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [05:26]: "He was really progressive. I think he profoundly misunderstood the United States on a very visceral level."

4. Emerging Trends Toward Conservative Catholicism Among Youth

John Bickley highlights a surge in conservative Catholicism, particularly among young people in regions like New York City and parts of Europe. Recent statistics from the Bishops Conference of France indicate a significant increase in Catholic conversions among young adults, signaling a potential shift in the Church's future direction.

• John Bickley [05:58]: "More than 10,000 adults were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday... mostly coming from young adults between the ages of 18 and 25."

This trend suggests that the next pope may need to address the growing conservative sentiment within the younger Catholic demographic.

5. The Papal Conclave: Potential Candidates for the Next Pope

Mairead Elordi provides an overview of the papal conclave process, detailing how cardinals convene to elect the new pope. The discussion emphasizes the debate between conservative and progressive candidates vying for the papacy.

• Mairead Elordi [07:53]: "The cardinals will convene over the next few days to select the pope."

Notable conservative candidates include Cardinal Robert Seurat from Guinea, Cardinal Wim Edge from the Netherlands, Cardinal Malcolm Rangith from Sri Lanka, and Cardinal Raymond Burke from the United States. Each of these figures has been vocal in their criticism of Francis' policies and represents a more traditionalist approach to Church leadership.

• Mairead Elordi [08:41]: "Cardinal Raymond Burke is one of the few potential successors from the United States. Burke said that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion, like former President Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist."

On the progressive side, candidates like Cardinal Luis Antonio Tegli, the "Asian Pope Francis," French Cardinal Jean Marc Aveline, and Italian Cardinal Pietro Powerlin are highlighted. These individuals are recognized for their diplomatic experience and more liberal stances on social issues.

• Mairead Elordi [09:49]: "French Cardinal Jean Marc Aveline, who was reportedly Francis's favorite to succeed him and is well liked in left-wing circles."

6. Democratic Party’s Leadership Crisis Amid Republican Control

Transitioning to domestic politics, the podcast addresses the Democratic Party's struggle to find a cohesive message and leader as President Trump nears his 100th day in office. With Republicans holding control in Washington, Democrats are portrayed as being in a state of introspection and reorganization.

• Cabot Phillips [10:56]: "Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break down what's at stake in this intra-party power struggle."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discusses the recent decline in approval ratings for Democratic leaders, citing a Gallup poll that shows only 25% approval. The absence of a clear standard-bearer has opened the door for figures like Bernie Sanders and AOC to gain prominence.

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [11:06]: "Seven in 10 gave a C, D or F. Now, if they had a singular leader to rally around, there might be more optimism. But there isn't a clear standard bearer waiting in the wings."

7. The Rise of AOC and Bernie Sanders as Democratic Leaders

The conversation highlights the ascendancy of AOC and Bernie Sanders, driven by their appeal to the party's base, particularly younger and more progressive voters. Their fundraising efforts and high approval ratings position them as frontrunners for potential leadership roles and future presidential nominations.

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [12:54]: "She raised nearly $10 million last quarter. That is by far her largest haul since taking office."

However, there's an ongoing tension within the Democratic Party between pushing further left and attempting to adopt a more moderate stance to regain broader electoral support. California Governor Gavin Newsom represents the moderate faction, advocating for strategies that avoid polarizing issues and appeal to centrist voters.

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [13:13]: "Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing hard for his party to make a beeline for the middle."

Despite these efforts, the podcast suggests that the push for moderation has not significantly resonated with the party's base, which continues to favor anti-Trump messaging and progressive policies.

• Cabot Phillips [14:10]: "It seems like most Democrats still are all in on the anti Trump messaging."

Conclusion

The episode of Morning Wire provides an in-depth analysis of two significant fronts: the Catholic Church's transition following Pope Francis' death and the Democratic Party's internal struggles in the face of Republican control. With emerging trends in both religious and political spheres, the discussions underscore the pivotal moments that lie ahead for institutional leadership and ideological direction.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments from the transcript have been omitted to focus solely on the substantive discussions and insights presented during the episode.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

Pope Francis passes away just one day after delivering an Easter message to millions of Christian faithful. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Tuesday, April 22nd, and this is Morning Wire. It will be days before the church selects a new pontiff, but there are already some favorites emerging.

[John Bickley]

Pope Francis had opened the door to giving blessings to individuals and same sex unions. That's something we could potentially see reversed.

[Cabot Phillips]

And with Republicans in control of D.C. democrats are searching for a strategy and a leader to pull them out of the political abyss.

[Megan Basham]

I think we do need a new generation of leaders and I applaud what's going on.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Megan Basham]

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[Mairead Elordi]

All federal flags and state flags at.

[Megan Basham]

Half mast in honor of Pope Francis.

[Mairead Elordi]

So he was a good man, worked hard, he loved the world and it's.

[Megan Basham]

An honor to do that.

[Cabot Phillips]

That was President Trump commemorating the life of Pope Francis. The 266th head of the Catholic Church passed away Monday at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a transformative and at times polarizing papacy.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with more on the impact of Pope Francis is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, we saw a real outpouring at the Vatican yesterday. Thousands of people showing up to pray, to light candles. Looking back at this past decade with Pope Francis, what do you think his legacy is going to be?

[John Bickley]

Well, I think certainly, Georgia, he's going to be remembered as something of a progressive reformer. In 2013, shortly after he was elected, he made his famously controversial statement about gay priests saying who am I to judge? And then in 2015, his encyclical called for environmental action. That's something he continually urged world leaders to do to address climate change. And then during his last Easter address on Sunday, directly after meeting with Vice President J.D. vance, he warned politicians against stirring up anti migrant sentiments. Immigration, of course was an issue that he spoke about frequently, like in this interview with CBS's Norah O'Donnell last year. I don't know if you've heard, but the state of Texas is attempting to shut down a Catholic charity on the border with Mexico that offers undocumented migrants humanitarian assistance. What do you think of that?

[Megan Basham]

That is madness, sheer madness. To close the border and leave them there, that is madness. The migrant has to be received. Thereafter, you see how you're going to deal with him.

[John Bickley]

But that said, his papacy wasn't as transformative as some theological progressives would have liked. He did endorse civil unions for same sex couples. That was a historic move for a pope. And he approved a document saying that priests could bless gay couples. But he also upheld this church's stance that marriage is between a man and a woman. So he stopped short of that full affirmation that so many LGBTQ activists were looking for. He also refused to approve the use of contraceptives or ordaining women to the priesthood. And plus, he was always a very strong advocate for the sanctity of life. And that was something that conservatives certainly cheered.

[Georgia Howe]

But also, some conservatives did feel targeted by him, correct?

[John Bickley]

They did. And I'd say that's because beyond his overall more progressive positions, he also took actions to suppress a conservative resurgence in the church. In 2021, he started severely restricting the celebration of the Latin Mass. That was a reversal from the previous Pope, Benedict. He argued that that right, which conservatives cherish, was being used to foster division and to reject Vatican II's liturgical reforms. But traditional communities felt targeted by that. And further, Francis took steps to curb the influence of conservative prelates who viewed his reforms as a threat to church tradition. One example of that, in 2014, he rem conservative cardinals like Raymond Burke, a vocal critic from a key Vatican post. He also appointed more moderate and progressive bishops to various roles of authority and elevated like minded clerics to the College of Cardinals. And because of this, you have a lot of critics accusing him of stacking the deck and stifling dissent. But that said, Father Robert Sirico, former president of the conservative Acton Institute, did tell Morningwire that he thinks the accusations of Francis being a Marxist go too far.

[Megan Basham]

The simple way of looking at it.

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]

Is to say he was really progressive. I think he profoundly misunderstood the United States on a very visceral level. And I think that is owing to his Argentinian background and what happened in his lifetime in Argentina.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, the irony is we just had a decade with what many people say is the most progressive pope yet and still just in the past year or two. As you've reported on this show, we've seen article after article about a resurgence of conservative Catholicism, particularly with young people.

[John Bickley]

Yeah. And those are some really fascinating trends right now. Last year, we reported on the surge of Catholic conversions among young people in New York City. But there's evidence that this trend is happening in a variety of nations in Europe as well. According to the Bishops Conference of France, more than 10,000 adults were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday. And they say that that is the largest wave of conversions in at least two decades. And it's mostly coming from young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. And then something similar is happening in England, where surveys now show that Catholics outnumber anglicans by about 2 to 1among Gen Z and younger millennials. And these younger people, particularly young men, are being especially drawn to conservative expressions of the faith, what's known as the trad cath or traditional Catholic movement. So really kind of going in a different direction from where Francis was trying to take the church.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, it'll be interesting to see if the surge of conservatism leads to a more conservative pope being named. Megan, thanks for reporting.

[John Bickley]

Anytime.

[Megan Basham]

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[Cabot Phillips]

Speculation is already swirling about who will become the head of the Catholic Church.

[Georgia Howe]

The cardinals will convene over the next few days to select the pope. And our reporter Mairead Elordi joins us with the details. So, Mairead, what happens next?

[Mairead Elordi]

Hi, Georgia. So when a pope dies, the cardinals convene a papal conclave where they cast ballots for the next pope. Famously, white smoke appears from the Sistine Chapel's chimney when a new pope is elected and a cardinal comes out to announce the new pope to cheering crowds in St. Peter's Square. Here's what that sounded like in 2013 when Francis was elected. The big question on many Catholics minds is whether the new pope will lean conservative or progressive on controversial issues. As Megan noted, Francis was pretty strong on Catholic doctrine, but he often sent mixed messages that endeared him to progressives. One of the more conservative names we're hearing is Cardinal Robert Seurat, an African cardinal from guinea who has been an outspoken critic of Francis. Seurat was critical of Francis restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass and his statement on blessings for same sex couples that caused confusion. Here's Seurat talking about the church's purpose when it comes to the global migrant crisis. The church is not a social organization to meet problem of migration or poverty. The church is a divine purpose to save the world. Cardinal Wim Edge is also considered a conservative potential successor. Edg is a former medical doctor from the Netherlands and he's been a sharp critic of Francis. He's one of the authors of a 2015 document opposing the pope's approval of civil remarriages among people who have not received an annulment. Cardinal Malcolm Rangith is another conservative from Sri Lanka. He criticized bishops who did not obey Pope Benedict on allowing the Latin Mass. And Cardinal Raymond Burke is one of the few potential successors from the United States. Burke said that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion, like former President Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist.

[Georgia Howe]

So several conservatives in the running. What about progressives?

[Mairead Elordi]

Yes, there are a number of progressive and politically moderate candidates who are also likely to take the reins of the Church. We're hearing Cardinal Luis Antonio Tegli, who's been called the Asian Pope Francis and would likely continue Francis more left leaning stances. Tigli's defended the church's teachings on abortion and contraception, but he has also criticized the church for using harsh words for LGBT people and divorced and remarried Catholics. Another more progressive cardinal in the running is the French Cardinal Jean Marc Aveline, who was reportedly Francis's favorite to succeed him and is well liked in left wing circles. Cardinal Pietro Powerlin is an Italian cardinal who's been in the Holy See's diplomatic service since the 1980s. He's considered a political moderate and has played a role in many political issues, including moderating 2014 talks between Cuban and American officials. Cardinals with global diplomatic experience are often considered seriously for pope.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, we'll be watching closely to see what direction the Vatican takes next. Murray, thanks for reporting.

[Mairead Elordi]

Thanks, Georgia.

[Georgia Howe]

As President Trump approaches his 100th day in office, Democrats are searching for a message and a messenger to lead their party.

[Cabot Phillips]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break down what's at stake in this intra party power struggle. Hey, Cabot, so Democrats really face a conundrum here. What's the latest in this?

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]

Well, ever since November's crushing defeat, there's been little cause for confidence within the Democratic Party for the optimists on the left. Democrats did see a strong turnout in special elections in a dozen or so states where their candidates outperformed Kamala Harris by an average of 10%. And most notably, they won a resounding victory for a Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin, a state Trump won by a point. But the bad news certainly outweighs the good for the left right now. First, Gallup just found that the approval rating for Democrat leaders in Congress has fallen to just 25%.

[Cabot Phillips]

Pretty dramatic. So what's driving that dissatisfaction among Democrat voters?

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]

So there are a few things. First, polling shows that folks on the left feel their leaders do not have a clear strategy for standing up to Trump. A recent survey from Data for Progress asked Democrat voters how they would grade their party's leaders response to Trump. Seven in 10 gave a C, D or F. Now, if they had a singular leader to rally around, there might be more optimism. But there isn't a clear standard bearer waiting in the wings. And that void has left an opportunity for Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, two of the party's most popular and controversial lawmakers, to really take center stage here.

[Cabot Phillips]

Those two have been really grabbing headlines. What's led to their sort of ascension?

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]

Well, in the first few weeks after the election, Democrats seemed torn on whether to cast a wide net, turn from culture war issues and embrace a more moderate approach or lean into far left populism. And right now, it seems the party's base is choosing the latter. A poll last week from Survey USA found that 50% of Democrats want the party to, quote, become more progressive. Only 18% said, quote, more moderate. And that is music to the ears of AOC and Bernie Sanders. They've launched a fighting oligarchy speaking tour. They've drawn massive crowds all across the country. Have a listen to AOC's take on the president.

[Georgia Howe]

Donald Trump is a criminal who was found guilty of 34 felony counts of fraud. Of course he's lying and abusing and manipulating the stock market, too. When he talks about rapists and criminals.

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]

He should look in the mirror the party's base. They seem to love it. Ocasio Cortez raised nearly $10 million last quarter. That is by far her largest haul since taking office. And according to a recent YouGov poll, she's got a plus 61 approval rating among Democrat voters. That's the highest mark for any Democrat. Official polls now show that Ocasio Cortez is among the two or three frontrunners for the Democrat Party's nomination in 2028, and that is big. Now, if the Democrats do take a hard turn left, there is a real risk they alienate even more Americans who were clearly already uneasy with the party in November. To that point, California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing hard for his party to make a beeline for the middle. He has urged them to retreat from political correctness, oppose transgender boys and girls sports, and refrain from apocalyptic language about Donald Trump and his supporters. Right now, that message does not seem to be gaining much traction with the party space.

[Cabot Phillips]

It seems like most Democrats still are all in on the anti Trump messaging. Kevin, thanks so much for reporting.

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]

Absolutely.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back later this afternoon with more news you need to know.

[Megan Basham]

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