Pope’s Death Brings Sorrow and Uncertainty over Whether Church Returns to More Traditional Doctrine

Pope Francis

As Catholic Church officials prepare for Pope Francis’s funeral Saturday, Vatican watchers are already looking ahead to the Conclave that will determine whether the church will continue in the progressive direction Francis charted or return to a more traditional path.

Francis, who died early Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, had been among the most influential figures on the global left during his 12-year papacy.

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