Cardinal Ramazzini urges next pope to prioritize migrant rights

In preparations for the papal conclave, held four days before May 4, 2025, Cardinal Álvaro Ramazzini emphasized the ongoing need for advocacy on behalf of migrants. His decades-long commitment in Guatemala, where political turmoil and extreme poverty have driven many to seek better lives in the United States, underscores this priority. Cardinal Ramazzini, elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019, stated that the Church must support and protect migrants who face dire circumstances, including infiltration by cartels and human trafficking. He indicated that this advocacy aligns with the Church's historical commitment to social justice, which begun with initiatives from the Second Vatican Council. Ramazzini noted that significant reforms initiated by Pope Francis regarding church institutions and financial structure must continue, along with a commitment to include more women in leadership roles within the Church. He expressed hope that the new pope would carry forward both the spiritual and social justice missions, underlining the importance of practical applications of the Gospel. As the conclave approached, Ramazzini reassured himself with his faith, stating he was not anxious about the selection process, believing that divine guidance would prevail in choosing the next leader of the world's Catholics. Meanwhile, the departing pope's legacy leaves substantial challenges for his successor, particularly concerning the financial state of the Vatican and the ongoing issues of sexual abuse within the Church. The new pope will face calls from various sectors of the Church to either continue or revise the progressive steps taken by Francis and contend with widening divisions between traditionalists and progressives.