Context:

In the wake of Pope Francis' death, survivors of sexual abuse and advocates are urging cardinals at the upcoming conclave in Rome to prioritize addressing the clerical sex abuse crisis when selecting the next pope. Despite Pope Francis' efforts, including summoning bishops globally and implementing laws to tackle abuse, his legacy on the issue is considered mixed, as many survivors feel disappointed by the lack of full transparency and mandatory reporting to civil authorities. Critics argue that internal resistance within the church and a lack of uniform application of new guidelines are significant hurdles to eradicating abuse. Survivor groups are calling for cardinals to adopt a zero-tolerance policy and scrutinize papal candidates' records on handling abuse allegations. The presence of cardinals with controversial pasts, such as Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, has further fueled concerns over the church's commitment to genuinely addressing the crisis.

Dive Deeper:

• Survivors of clerical abuse and their advocates have gathered in Rome for the conclave to emphasize the importance of addressing the sex abuse crisis in selecting the next pope. They aim to ensure that the issue remains a priority for the cardinals.

• Pope Francis made significant strides in addressing clerical abuse, such as convening a global summit of bishops and revising church laws to hold all clerics accountable. However, he faced criticism for not making it mandatory to report cases to civil authorities, which many see as essential for transparency.

• Marie Collins, a former member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, highlights the internal cultural resistance within the Vatican and church hierarchy that impedes progress in tackling clerical abuse issues effectively.

• Survivor advocacy groups demand that cardinals adopt a 'one strike and you're out' policy and scrutinize the records of papal candidates regarding their handling of abuse cases. They launched Conclave Watch to monitor how candidates have addressed previous allegations.

• Critics argue that the presence of certain cardinals accused of mishandling abuse cases, such as Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, undermines the church's assurances of prioritizing the abuse issue. The Vatican's lack of response to these concerns raises doubts about its commitment to genuine reform.