Papal Succession: What Protestants Can Learn from the 2025 Conclave

Some Protestants are fascinated by the Pope, while others—understandably, given church history—want nothing to do with him. While I don’t think fascination with the Pope is healthy for Protestant Christians, I do believe that meaningful dialogue between Catholics and Protestants is increasingly necessary. The reasons behind the Protestant Reformation remain essential, but they do not mean there is nothing we can learn from one another. With that in mind, I would like to consider three lessons that Protestants can take away from the 2025 conclave—lessons that will hopefully bolster our understanding of leadership and succession within our own traditions.