The media reported on the intensification of the conflict between liberals and conservatives in the election of the pontiff

The conclave, during which a new pope is being elected, showed an intensified confrontation between liberals and conservatives. This was reported by Politico on May 8.

Politico writes that the vote comes after a "tumultuous week" that revealed divisions in the Catholic Church, and Pope Francis' rule itself was marked by "deep divisions between progressive-minded clergy and those who resist change."

Anonymous sources told the publication that support for the successor candidate has increased at the last few general meetings, which is expected to continue Francis' policy of tolerance towards LGBT people (the LGBT movement is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia), as well as provide more freedom to clergy from the Global South.

According to Politico, the cardinals cannot reach a consensus on the election of a new pontiff.

Without the Pope's blessing: why the conclave couldn't choose a pontiff

Cardinals vote in conditions of a large—scale schism - who does the Roman Catholic Church need today

On the same day, it was reported that the conclave was unable to choose a new pope for the second time. At 11:50 a.m. local time (12:50 a.m. Moscow time), black smoke rose from the chapel's furnace, indicating that all candidates for the papacy did not have enough votes. To be elected, two thirds of the total number of votes must be obtained.

The first round of voting took place on May 7. At that time, about 45,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square, but none of the candidates was able to get the necessary two-thirds of the votes.

Pope Francis died at the age of 89 on the morning of April 21 from a cerebral stroke. He last appeared in public on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter celebrations on April 20. As previously reported, the pontiff has been struggling with bilateral pneumonia for a long time.