This week begins the search for the next head of the Catholic Church known as the Conclave. Social media has been a buzz as Cardinals all over the world have gathered to begin this sacred ritual to elect the next Pope.

During his papacy, Pope Francis took stands on issues like immigration, war and environmental justice. Although he appointed women leaders in the Vatican office, he did not go so far as to allow women to serve as deacons, and priests.

As the Catholic church elects a new pope, some women are hoping for expanded roles under the next papacy. Today, we hear what that might look like.

What would you like to see from the next Pope?

GUESTS:
Olivia Bardo: Multimedia and Social Editor at the Global Sisters Report, a Project of the National Catholic Reporter
Celia Viggo Wexler: journalist and author of Catholic Women Confront Their Church: Stories of Hurt and Hope
Sister Barbara Mullen: Sister of Saint Joseph and Hartford Archdiocese Delegate for Religious

This week begins the search for the next head of the Catholic Church known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/world/europe/papal-conclave-politics.html">the Conclave.</a>&nbsp;Social media has been a buzz as Cardinals all over the world have gathered to begin this sacred ritual to elect the next Pope.
During his papacy, Pope Francis took stands on issues like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/04/pope-conclave-challenges-lgbtq-women-sex-abuse/d43660a0-289d-11f0-ae6d-e4db528eba27_story.html">immigration</a><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/04/pope-conclave-challenges-lgbtq-women-sex-abuse/d43660a0-289d-11f0-ae6d-e4db528eba27_story.html">, war and environmental justice.</a>&nbsp;Although he appointed women leaders in the Vatican office,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/26/europe/women-catholic-church-pope-francis-intl-cmd#:~:text=Francis%20maintained%20the%20ban%20on,on%20whether%20someone%20is%20ordained">he did not go so far as to allow women to serve as deacons, and priests.</a>
As the Catholic church elects a new pope, some women are hoping for expanded roles under the next papacy. Today, we hear what that might look like.
What would you like to see from the next Pope?
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.globalsistersreport.org/authors/olivia-bardo">Olivia Bardo:</a>&nbsp;Multimedia and Social Editor at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalsistersreport.org/">Global Sisters Report</a>, a Project of the National Catholic Reporter</li>
<li><a href="https://celiawexler.com/about/">Celia Viggo Wexler:</a>&nbsp;journalist and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/catholic-women-confront-their-church-stories-of-hurt-and-hope-celia-viggo-wexler/11852377">Catholic Women Confront Their Church: Stories of Hurt and Hope</a></li>
<li><a href="https://archdioceseofhartford.org/meet-the-new-delegate-for-religious-sister-barbara-mullen/">Sister Barbara Mullen:</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://sistersofsaintjoseph.org/">Sister of Saint Joseph</a>&nbsp;and Hartford Archdiocese Delegate for Religious</li>
</ul>

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.