When the 133 cardinal electors enter the Sistine Chapel Wednesday (May 7) to select the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the influence of Pope Francis will be inside with them — not just in the eight in 10 he named as cardinals, but also in their support for central themes of his 12-year papacy.
Francis' powerful sway over the forthcoming conclave is revealed in a National Catholic Reporter analysis of the biographies, background, articles, speeches, homilies and media interviews of members of the College of Cardinals, providing for the first time an in-depth look into the views of the men who will select the successor to St. Peter.
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