As Catholics worldwide turn their attention to the impending conclave as the Church seeks to elect its 267th pontiff, one curious group of onlookers in particular is keeping a close watch.

Among today’s young adults, many reached an age where their preferences for the Catholic Church's next leader have been refined by the past dozen years of Pope Francis’ tenure. 

One thing that is clear is that young adults wish to be seen and heard by the next pope. 

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“Young Catholics want to feel seen and understood, not judged or ignored. The pope doesn’t have to be trendy, but he should be open to conversations about mental health, identity and purpose, as these are things many of us are struggling with,” said Christian Lorusso, a 22-year-old parishioner of St. John Chrysostom in Newmarket, Ont. 

It’s a similar view held by Michelle Al-Khoury, a member of Montréal’s Mission Jeunesse youth organization. 

“We pray that whoever is going to be next will also have a heart that's very close to young people. We need a pope who has a heart for young people,” she told The Catholic Register. 

For Lorusso, the next pope will also need to be able to navigate all camps by building on the social progress enforced by Francis while still upholding the faith’s core tenets. It’s a mindset he explained is rooted in making Catholicism accessible to as many groups as possible. 

“I think we need a proper balance. The core teachings of the Church are important, but so is understanding the world in which we live today,” he said. “(Francis) showed that you can engage with modern culture while staying rooted in faith. That approach makes the Church more relatable and gives it a chance to speak meaningfully into people’s lives today.” 

Although somewhere in the middle, Lorusso isn’t alone in his hopes for a pope with similar progressive tendencies to those of his predecessor. In a poll created by The Catholic Register, young adults ranging from 18 to 30 were asked what qualities the next pope should exemplify, with 68.4 per cent choosing a compassionate pastoral approach, with social justice advocacy and inclusivity following closely at 47.4 and 58 per cent respectively. 

Respondents were asked to explain their answer, with many backing up their calls for a socially conscious leader. 

“One of the key teaching points I learned through Christian education was compassion and inclusivity. The pope should exemplify these qualities as he is the figurehead of the Catholic Church,” one response read, while another said “a pope who leads with mercy and empathy can reach people where they are, especially those feeling distant from the Church.”  

Conservative qualities such as the defence of Catholic education, tradition and a focus on evangelization were also voiced. 

“I want the pope to be a classic pope we once knew and loved, upholding Catholic values and continuing to spread the Gospel because I think the world needs this,” one wrote. 

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“Sense of belonging to God and His Church, not the world, nor its current issues and stressors, is most important to me. Our Holy Father must, as the visible head, safeguard the faith and her teachings and traditions so that we do not lose our sense of identity as Catholics in every age,” another read. 

While secular society and cradle Catholics alike have an equal lack of say in the decision, young-adult voices from the Archdiocese of Toronto also appear to be leaning closer to hopes for a more balanced pope to take hold of the See of Peter. 

Sarah Marchack, a parishioner of  St. Basil's Parish on the University of Toronto campus, is optimistic the next pope will straddle what the faithful and the world need him to be. 

“ Whoever it ends up being, I hope that he will love the faith, love his Church and love the rest of the world as well,” she said. “I think it will be the pope that God wants for us and as for what comes next, it will be ultimately for our good and we can have a lot of optimism for the future in that.” 

Marchack was present at St. Peter’s Square in Rome this Easter, where she saw the Holy Father in his last days. Having witnessed Francis’ love for his people, even through failing health, she hopes his successor carries on with similar passion in his work. 

“I think about his emotional interview with the little boy talking about his father’s death, about him washing the feet of female prisoners, and  while every pope of every age is always criticized, it’s important to focus on the good things that he did as well,” she said. “ A pope who has a love of the faith like Francis is something that we really need in our society.”

A love of the faith is something Aaron Fernandes, a youth minister and  coordinator of formation and discipleship at  St. Barnabas Parish in Scarborough, would like to see — albeit when approached from a slightly different angle. 

“ I would want a pope who is the guardian and safe keeper of our Catholic faith explicitly,” he said. “ I think the whole of the College of Cardinals at large needs to be really discerning about how they can keep their children alive in a world where the Catholic faith is under a ridiculous amount of attack.” 

Upholding the Church's teaching opposing abortion and other issues facing Catholics in a secular world and a re-centring on inner issues would be a welcome addition in the next papal leadership.

“The primary focus of any Holy Father should be about looking in-house and keeping the family of God together, first and foremost. We  have to pray for whoever his successor will be to have prudence to see his flock, which is the Catholic Church, as first and foremost. I think it would benefit the young adults, especially those who are trying to raise families in the Catholic faith,” Fernandes said. 

With the conclave different from an election the likes of which Canada just went through in the sense that clear front-runners are often scarce, certain cardinals from across the globe are already being touted as Francis’ replacement. 

On the more progressive side include Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson and the Philippines' Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, both of whom advocate for inclusion, economic justice and evangelization.

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Names of more orthodox cardinals, such as Peter Erdő of Hungary and Congo’s Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, have also been circulating on the topic of the Church's next leader. 

The conclave begins May 7 at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.