Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero prepares for first conclave to choose Pope Francis's successor

Spanish-born archbishop of Rabat shares reflections ahead of May 7 conclave to elect new pope.

Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero greets relatives and friends during a courtesy visit after being appointed by the Pope at an Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new cardinals on October 5, 2019, in the Vatican. Photo by Tiziana Fabi/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, the Spanish-born archbishop of Rabat, is set to take part in the upcoming papal conclave beginning on May 7, where cardinals from around the world will gather to select a successor to Pope Francis. Despite feeling a bit apprehensive about the gravity of the responsibility, Lopez Romero emphasizes his trust in the Holy Spirit to guide the process, saying he remains calm, curious, and spiritually grounded.

The cardinal, who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2019, is among 133 members of the College of Cardinals expected to cast a vote in the sacred election held inside the Sistine Chapel. Only those under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the conclave, a process marked by tradition, prayer, and strict secrecy.

A humble approach to an historic responsibility

In an interview with AFP, Lopez Romero, 72, shared that he has not yet made up his mind on whom he will vote for as the next leader of the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers.

"I haven't decided anything," he said, adding, "We believe in the Holy Spirit and we will see what it shows us and where we have to go."

Though this will be his first time participating in a papal election, the cardinal approaches it with a deep sense of duty and reflection, not political calculation. Lopez Romero believes that the Church’s next leader does not need to be an exact replica of Francis, but rather someone who embodies the spirit of Christ and understands the evolving needs of the modern world.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be a Francis mark II," he said. "I am happy for him to be a good impersonator of Christ, that he is a good Christian, a good person and pays attention to what happens in the world."

Serving the world through the Church

Originally from Spain, Lopez Romero has served as the archbishop of Rabat, Morocco’s capital, since 2017. His tenure in a predominantly Muslim country, where Christians make up less than one percent of the population, has shaped his unique pastoral philosophy. He admits that the context forced him to reconsider his role not just as a church leader, but as a servant to all communities.

"I hear confession barely once every six months," he said, highlighting how his daily work focuses more on coexistence and understanding rather than traditional sacramental ministry.

"That helped me to realise that I wasn't there to serve the Church but rather, as the Church, to serve the world — in this case, the Muslim world."

This shift in mindset reflects the broader mission Pope Francis has championed during his papacy — one of outreach, interfaith dialogue, and a Church that goes beyond borders, both literal and theological.

General congregations and conclave traditions

In the days leading up to the conclave, Lopez Romero has been participating in what are known as "general congregations," daily meetings where cardinals discuss the pressing issues the Church faces and what qualities the new pope should possess.

"We are listening to people who we have never listened to before... and that guides you," he said.

The cardinals stay at the modest Casa Santa Marta within the Vatican, the same residence where Pope Francis lived during his time in office. Once the conclave officially begins, participants are sworn to absolute secrecy. Smartphones and all forms of communication with the outside world are banned, while rooms are swept for surveillance devices to preserve the sanctity of the process.

Despite these restrictions, Lopez Romero views the experience with a sense of spiritual peace. "I'm not worried, but I am curious. A little apprehensive because I know the responsibility that this entails, but calm because I believe in the Holy Spirit," he said.

Still, he hopes the conclave will be brief: "A certain happiness" surrounds the event, he said, but added, "I hope it will not last more than two or three days." Historically, recent conclaves have taken about two days, but in the past, some have lasted much longer — even years.

A universal Church without borders

Lopez Romero strongly supports Pope Francis’s vision of a missionary Church, especially one that reaches out to regions where Catholicism is not the dominant religion. His own work in Morocco exemplifies this.

"Thanks to Pope Francis this has become much clearer — that the Church is universal, Catholic, that there are no geographic borders that limit us," he said.

Lopez also believes the Church should consider a pope from any part of the world. While recent popes have hailed from Argentina, Germany, and Poland, he suggests it’s time to widen the field even further.

"Why not think about a pope from Myanmar, East Timor, or Australia, or North America, or Africa?" he said. "It's all open."

Nonetheless, he jokes that he will not be the one wearing the papal white. "It's as if I said Messi is going to retire and I'm going to replace" him, he quipped, drawing a lighthearted comparison to the legendary footballer Lionel Messi.

Looking ahead to the next chapter

The conclave of May 2025 comes at a pivotal time for the Catholic Church. As Pope Francis’s health has declined, conversations about his legacy and the future direction of the Church have intensified. Issues such as clergy abuse, secularism, political extremism, and inclusivity remain front and center.

Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero represents a growing contingent of clergy who are reshaping the Church's role in global society — not through doctrinal rigidity, but through openness, service, and humility.

As he joins his fellow cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope, Lopez Romero carries not just the hopes of the Moroccan Church but of a Catholic world ready for renewal.

Whether or not the next pontiff continues along Pope Francis’s path, Lopez Romero’s presence in the conclave ensures that the vision of a Church dedicated to serving humanity — especially in unlikely places — will remain central to the discussion.